2026 Salary Survey: Salary Benchmarks & Hiring Insights for Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland job market has entered 2026 with renewed momentum but also growing complexity. Skills shortages persist, candidate expectations are higher, and employers are under increasing pressure to make the right hiring and workforce decisions the first time.

To support both sides of the market, we have launched our 2026 Salary Survey, offering up-to-date salary benchmarks and expert insight across Northern Ireland’s key sectors. Whether you’re hiring talent or planning your next career move, this report provides the clarity needed to act with confidence.

Sectors Covered in the MCS 2026 UK Salary Survey

The report includes detailed salary ranges and market insight across:

• Accountancy & Finance
• Banking & Financial Services
• Human Resources
• IT & Digital (Permanent & Contracting)
• Sales & Marketing
• Engineering & Manufacturing
• Construction & Built Environment

Each section highlights competitive salaries, in-demand skills and predictions for 2026.

What Employers Are Navigating in 2026

Competitive pay remains essential, but it is rarely enough on its own. Employers are finding that attraction and retention increasingly depend on the total employment offering, including flexibility, benefits, progression and leadership quality.

AI, data and regulation are also raising expectations across nearly every function, from IT and finance to HR, marketing and engineering. As a result, hiring decisions are becoming more strategic, with many organisations rethinking role design, team structure and long-term capability rather than simply replacing like-for-like.

The survey explores how employers should adapt their hiring strategies and where delays, rigidity or unclear propositions are costing access to talent.

What Jobseekers Are Considering More Carefully

Today's professionals are more informed and selective. Many candidates are reassessing how they build experience, with contract and project-based roles increasingly viewed as a means of accessing specialist skills, exposure to new technologies and faster progression.

The MCS 2026 Salary Survey provides transparency on how roles are evolving, where demand is strongest and how pay aligns with experience across sectors.

A Shift Towards Sustainable Hiring

One of the strongest themes running through the 2026 Salary Survey is the move away from chasing “perfect” candidates. Employers achieving the best results are widening criteria, investing in development and building long-term talent pipelines.

For jobseekers, this shift is opening more opportunities at graduate, part-qualified and early-career levels, supported by clearer onboarding, progression pathways and increasingly tech-enabled hiring processes that create a more transparent and accessible candidate experience.

Download the Full Salary Survey

Whether you are planning recruitment for 2026 or considering your next career move, the MCS 2026 Salary Survey provides the depth, data and insight needed to make confident decisions.

Download the MCS 2026 Salary Survey to access full salary benchmarks, sector-by-sector analysis and expert guidance for the year ahead.