There are two sources of data on graduate earnings, which come from the Graduate Outcomes Survey and the Central Statistics Office’s (CSO) Educational Longitudinal Database (ELD).

The Graduate Outcomes Survey provides details on graduate earnings, and this is presented by gender, programme level, field of study, socio-economic background, occupation, Leaving Certificate points and region.  An analysis of the factors which influence graduate earnings is also carried out each year, and considers the impact that various personal, study and occupational characteristics have on graduate earnings.  Recently, changes in graduate earnings over time have been considered as more data from the Graduate Outcomes Survey becomes available.  The Graduate Outcomes Survey earnings data considers what graduates earn nine months after graduation.

Data is also available from the Central Statistics Office, through its PXStat service. This data links the HEA’s graduate records with data from the Revenue Commissioners to obtain salary data.  This allows for a longitudinal picture of graduate earnings to be considered.

• What is the latest graduate earnings data available?

  The latest graduate earnings data comes from the Graduate Outcomes Survey – Class of 2021 report, available here.

• What longitudinal data is available?

  Data is housed in the Central Statsitics Office’s Educational Longitudinal Database on graduate earnings over time, and these can be seen on this dashboard.

  Two detailed reports into longitudinal graduate earnings, using the data housed in the CSO, are available:

  • An Analysis of Labour Market Earnings for Higher Education Graduates in their Early Careers: Graduation Cohorts: 2010 – 2017
  • An Analysis of Graduate Earnings across Higher Education Institutions: Graduation Cohorts: 2010 – 2017

  A further dashboard gives predicted graduate salaries, by gender, detailed field of study, institute type, and school type, taken from the above reports.