HSE vs Agency Pay
Thinking of moving between a permanent HSE role and agency work? Enter your HSE salary and an agency hourly rate to see take-home pay side by side. The permanent side deducts the public-service pension; the agency side does not. Updates as you type.
- Gross / year
- €45,000
- Income tax + USC + PRSI
- −€7,973
- Pension (Single Scheme + ASC)
- −€1,700
- Take-home / year
- €35,328
- Per month
- €2,944
- Per week
- €679
- Gross / year
- €54,600
- Income tax + USC + PRSI
- −€12,504
- Pension (Single Scheme + ASC)
- —
- Take-home / year
- €42,096
- Per month
- €3,508
- Per week
- €810
Agency take-home is €6,768/year more in cash at these figures — but that is before the value of the HSE pension, and agency work has no paid annual leave, sick pay, increments or job security.
Both use 2026 PAYE, USC and PRSI on a single person's standard credits. The HSE side deducts the Single Public Service Pension Scheme contribution + ASC (approximate). Agency annual pay = rate × hours × 52 weeks and assumes PAYE employment via the agency. Adjust to your own figures. Not financial advice.
What the numbers miss
Cash take-home is only half the picture. A permanent HSE post adds a public-service pension, paid annual leave and public holidays, paid sick leave, and incremental progression up the scale each year. Agency work trades those for higher headline rates and flexibility. Use the HSE pension calculator to value the pension, and the annual leave calculator to value the leave.
Related
See your take-home pay, the HSE pay scales by grade, or browse live jobs across Ireland.
Frequently asked questions
- Does agency work pay more than a permanent HSE job?
- Agency roles often quote a higher gross hourly rate, so cash take-home can be higher week to week. But the permanent HSE side includes a public-service pension, paid annual leave, sick pay, incremental progression and job security — none of which agency work provides. Compare the net figures, then weigh the pension and benefits on top.
- Why is HSE take-home lower for the same gross?
- Permanent public-service staff pay into the Single Public Service Pension Scheme plus the Additional Superannuation Contribution (ASC), which is deducted from gross pay. Agency workers are not in that scheme, so nothing is deducted for it — but they also build no public-service pension.
- How is agency annual pay worked out here?
- Agency annual pay = hourly rate × hours per week × 52 weeks, assuming you are paid PAYE through the agency. Real agency work is often not a full 52 paid weeks (no paid leave), so treat it as an upper estimate and adjust the hours to match your actual pattern.
- Is this take-home figure exact?
- It uses 2026 income tax, USC and PRSI on a single person’s standard credits, and an approximate public-service pension deduction. Your exact figure depends on your credits, ASC band and any other deductions. This is a guide, not financial advice.