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Health & Social Care · HSE

Health Care Assistant (HCA) Salary in Ireland

Pay scale €36,651–€45,939 a year

Verified against the HSE Consolidated Salary Scales (Department of Health Circular 2/2026), effective 1 June 2026.

Quick answer: A Health Care Assistant (HCA) in the HSE earns between €36,651 and €45,939 per year on the 2026 pay scale, effective 1 June 2026.

Frontline care support to nurses and patients across hospitals, community and residential services — the HSE’s highest-volume grade.

The Health Care Assistant (HCA) salary follows the national HSE pay scale — a fixed incremental scale from €36,651 (starting point) to €45,939 (top of scale). You move up one increment for each year of satisfactory service, plus any long-service increments and qualification or location allowances that apply to the post.

Health Care Assistant (HCA) pay scale — point by point

Effective 1 June 2026. Take-home is an estimate for a single PAYE employee at 2026 rates.

PointAnnual salaryTake-home / year/ month
1€36,651€31,135€2,595
2€38,130€32,212€2,684
3€39,687€33,344€2,779
4€40,101€33,646€2,804
5€41,118€34,386€2,865
6€41,998€35,026€2,919
7€43,264€35,947€2,996
8€44,577€36,787€3,066
9€45,939€37,506€3,125

You start near the bottom and move up one point a year. Top-of-scale points may include long-service increments (LSIs), reached after service at the maximum. See your year-by-year progression →

Estimate your take-home pay

Prefilled at this grade’s scale midpoint — adjust to any point.

€
Show take-home per
Tax year

Estimated take-home

€2,876 /month

€34,514/year · €1,327/fortnight · €664/week

Gross
€3,441
− Income tax (PAYE)
−€355
− USC
−€64
− PRSI
−€146
Net /month
€2,876
Effective deduction rate
16.4%

Estimate for a PAYE employee at 2026 rates — income tax, USC and PRSI, with the status, pension, age and medical-card options you set. Simplified (other credits, reliefs and marginal age relief not modelled). Fortnightly = annual ÷ 26. Not tax advice; check revenue.ie for your exact figures.

Live Health Care Assistant (HCA) vacancies 20

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Health Care Assistant (HCA) earn in Ireland?
The HSE Health Care Assistant (HCA) pay scale runs from €36,651 to €45,939 a year. You start near the bottom and move up the scale with each year of service.
What is the take-home pay for a Health Care Assistant (HCA)?
At the scale midpoint (€41,295), a single employee takes home about €34,514 a year (€2,876 a month) after income tax, USC and PRSI. Use the calculator above for the exact figure at any point on the scale.
What qualifications does a Health Care Assistant (HCA) need?
Requirements are set per campaign — check each listing. Relevant experience and, for many posts, a QQI qualification are typical.