Jobs in Ireland for Americans: How to Find Work as an Expat in 2025
Moving to a new country is incredibly exciting! However, there are quite a few logistics you will need to consider before moving abroad, the biggest of which is how to find jobs in Ireland for Americans.
Finding a job in the U.S. can be challenging enough as it is, let alone trying to find a job in a foreign country. But it IS possible if you do your research, make valued connections, and use the resources and guidelines found in this blog.
Can I Work in Ireland as a U.S. Citizen?
Visas in Ireland:
Yes, U.S. citizens can live and work in Ireland. You will likely need a visa to stay in Ireland, as well as an Employment permit to hold a job in Ireland as an American.
Staying in Ireland for over 90 days will require a long-term stay, “D Visa”. A multi-journey visa starts at €100 and is valid for multiple entries to the country up to a maximum of 5 years from the date of issue.
To apply for an Irish visa, or to check if you will need an Irish visa, click here.
Employment Permits in Ireland:
While a visa allows you entry to a country, a work permit allows you to get a job in a country. You must hold a valid work Employment Permit if you are a non-EEA National to work in Ireland.
There are different types of employment permits based on what type of employment you will be pursuing. You must receive a job offer before applying for an employment permit. You will be restricted to only taking up the employment for which you have been approved by your permit.
To be eligible to apply for a general employment permit, you must be coming to Ireland to do a highly skilled job, where there is a skill shortage in Ireland, and which pays €30,000 or more a year.
You may be able to get a critical skills employment permit if your role isn’t on the highly skilled list, but your salary is €60,000 or more.
You will need to demonstrate that you have the skills and experience needed for the job you’ve been offered but once you have your permit, your rights will be the same as any Irish or EU employee working in Ireland. This includes allowing family members to potentially be able to work if they apply for a dependent/partner/spouse employment permit.
Working Holiday in Ireland:
Many countries will provide special opportunities to work abroad for young expats. Ireland’s working holiday visa is available for any U.S. citizen over the age of 18 who is currently in full-time post-secondary education or just graduated within 12 months of their application.
The working holiday visa will let you live and work or intern in Ireland for up to 12 months.
How Can an American Get a Job in Ireland for U.S. Citizens?
Since you will need to find a job before applying for your employment permit, it is important to know HOW to find work in Ireland from outside of the country.
There are a variety of ways to find a job in Ireland including headhunters, job boards, and even Facebook groups.
Though as a foreigner, your best chance of easily securing a job is through networking. Any way you can make connections with employers and workers in Ireland will help your chances of securing a job in Ireland.
Is It Difficult to Get a Job in Ireland as an American?
It can be difficult to find a job and work in Ireland as an American because you might not have connections there yet and because often employers will want to employ local Irish residents before a foreigner. It is not impossible, and creating trusted connections before applying will go a long way in securing a job in Ireland as an American.
Be active on LinkedIn. Connect with people who work at the companies you are interested in and start a conversation about how they like their job, how they like living in Ireland, what their company is like, etc. Or connect with people in your field that you can talk to about companies in Ireland.
If you have the option to visit Ireland for a short time before securing your job, it would be a great idea to try to attend networking events or conferences to make in-person connections.
How to Find a Job in Ireland for Americans
Finding a job in Ireland is similar to finding a job in the United States, it just might be a bit more of a challenge for Americans. The easiest way to find a job is to look for the sectors that are in the most need of workers.
Here are a few ways you can look into finding a job in Ireland for American citizens:
Headhunters / Recruiters:
If you would like some help in finding a job in Ireland you can always hire a recruiter. Headhunters or recruiting agencies will take your CV (Resume) and work with you to find a company and place you in a job that matches your skills and interests.
Recruiters have access to a wide variety of job openings that might not be posted online. They are paid by the employer (typically by taking a percentage of the salary), so as a job-seeker you should not be charged for using the services of a headhunter.
A few of the top-rated headhunters to find jobs in Ireland are:
- Recruiters – One of the top-rated recruiting companies in Ireland. They have a variety of job opportunities including IT and Project Management, Contracting and Temp, Customer Service, etc.
- Sigmar Recruitment – Offices Nationwide with a wide variety of industry options including, but not limited to, Customer Service, Engineering, Pharmacy, Marketing, and Construction Jobs.
- Principle HR – Biggest focus is on Technology, Media & Marketing, Finance, and Human Resources.
- Maria Logan Recruitment – Specializes in Hospitality and Catering Recruitment.
Job Boards in Ireland:
Just as you would if you were looking for a job in America, you should monitor job boards when searching for a job in Ireland. Here are a few popular job posting sites to check:
Facebook Groups:
It can sometimes be beneficial to join a few Facebook groups for expats or job seekers in Ireland. You can ask if anyone has any opportunities or is open to networking, and sometimes people will post job opportunities and openings for work in Ireland.
Facebook groups are a great place to ask your questions about jobs in Ireland for U.S. citizens as well.
A few groups to take a look at:
- Jobs in Ireland: ~14K members
- Dublin Jobs: ~50K members
- Jobs in Galway: ~21.7K members
- Expats in Ireland: ~7.7K members
- Critical Skills Work Permit Ireland: ~3.5K members
What Jobs Are in Demand in Ireland?
At the moment, the most in-demand jobs in Ireland for Americans are highly skilled jobs. The top few in-demand jobs in Ireland are:
- Technology
- Healthcare
- Engineering
- Business, Finance, and Accounting
- Creative Design and Web Development
- Transport and Logistics
- Construction
American Companies in Ireland
Ireland is known as a great place to do business, so it is not surprising that there are many American companies that have placed their European headquarters in Ireland. A large majority of these companies and their job openings are related to the technology and engineering sector.
It is possible to work for an American company that has a headquarters in Ireland by transferring from the U.S. to Ireland. If your management is willing to work with you on a relocation this could be an easy way to secure work sponsorship in Ireland.
A few of the top American companies in Ireland are:
- Citi – One of the first international banks to set up in Ireland
- Fidelity Investments – Financial services
- HubSpot – Inbound marketing platform
- Johnson & Johnson – Biotechnology
- LinkedIn – Online recruiting and networking social platform
- Slack – Project and team management platform
Another option to consider is if you could continue working for your U.S. company remotely abroad. Want to know more? ⮕ Read this post.
Teaching Jobs in Ireland for Americans
If you are interested in teaching and/or working with children, there are a few opportunities for finding a job as an American citizen in Ireland. Teaching English is a popular way for people to find work abroad, but since Irish students speak English the opportunities are limited to mostly private language schools.
It will be more difficult for Americans to find work teaching in Ireland than in a country where they could teach ESL, but it is still possible. Requirements for teaching often include a Bachelor’s degree and an ESL certification such as TEFL.
Teachers qualified in STEM will be able to find more opportunities, including some in the public school system. Primary schools require teachers to speak Irish, as it is taught to primary school students. All teachers who have foreign teaching qualifications will need to apply for recognition of their qualifications to the Teaching Council.
Au Pair:
An Au Pair is someone who lives and works with a family by assisting with childcare and some light housework. Each situation is slightly different, but an Au Pair typically works anywhere from 20-40 hours per week and is paid a wage in addition to boarding and meals.
As a non-EU citizen, your requirements to work as an Au Pair in Ireland might be more strict. Depending on the agency you go through you will likely need to be between 18-27 years of age, have graduated from an intermediate school, and be able to cover your own visa and travel expenses.
You will also still need a work permit to work as an American Au Pair in Ireland. You would be able to qualify for work as an Au Pair through a student visa or a working holiday visa.
A few Au Pair websites to check out:
American Digital Nomads/Online Entrepreneurs in Ireland
If your business is run entirely online from outside of Ireland, you will be able to stay in Ireland as a tourist for up to 90 days.
Unfortunately, at this time Ireland does not have a digital nomad visa. There is no penalty for conducting business from outside of the country while visiting Ireland, but your stay WILL be limited to 90 days.
There are plenty of co-working spaces across Ireland, especially in the bigger cities if you want to find curated office space and other digital nomads. Most of the coffee shops have reliable WiFi and plenty of working space (depending on where you go) as well. I did most of my work from coffee shops when I lived in Ireland!
Need more information on how to work remotely abroad for a U.S. company? CLICK HERE
Internship Jobs in Ireland for Americans
Internships abroad are a popular option for students and new professionals as they provide fantastic and varied experience as well as international working experience. Often, internships are more about the experience and resume building than making any money.
There are paid internships available but some internships you may have to pay a fee for, though many of these provide a more comprehensive program and housing as part of the cost.
You will need a Short Term Employment visa to participate in an internship in Ireland. To apply for the visa, you will need your employer in Ireland to sponsor you.
To find an internship, check online job boards or visit a site that has established internship abroad programs such as these:
- Go Overseas
- Education First – EF Gap Year Internships
- The Intern Group
How to Move to Ireland as an American
Once you have obtained a visa and work permit, the fun part of actually moving to Ireland begins! Expats have plenty of questions when moving to a new country, so it is important to do your research and create a plan for moving abroad.
Everything you need to know about living in Ireland as an expat is explained in this guide:
How to Find Housing as an American Moving to Ireland to Work
If you already have a job in Ireland, great! You should look up the best neighborhoods to live in near your job or in the city you want to live in.
If you don’t already have a specific city you will live and work in, you will want to do some research on what part of Ireland you want to move to and take into consideration factors such as how populated the city is, ease of public transportation, things you want to do regularly, etc.
Once you have your city and neighborhood narrowed down, you will likely want to start by searching through general rental websites. Popular sites include: Rentberry, Rent.ie, or Daft.ie.
You can also search Facebook groups such as Dublin Rent a Room. People will post if they are looking for someone to live with, or if they have an opening that they need to fill.
For a unique, more cultural option you could consider a homestay, or living with an Irish local. I had two friends do this and both had a blast. They had very unique experiences – one ended up getting proposed to at an Irish farmer’s matchmaking party!
Popular Cities for Expats in Ireland
As might be expected, many people getting a job in Ireland as an American choose to live in bigger cities such as Dublin, Galway, or Cork. There are more job opportunities, activities, and events, and often it is easier to make friends in bigger cities.
I lived in Dublin during my stay in Ireland and certainly can attest to the amount of nightlife and events that are constantly going on. There is always somewhere new to explore or a new event coming to town.
Read my guide to finding accommodation in Dublin where I explain different Dublin neighborhoods HERE.
Galway is also one of my favorite cities. It is a bit smaller with a slower pace of life, but still plenty to see and do.
For expats who prefer a slower pace of life or want to enjoy Ireland’s more rustic sides, there are plenty of smaller towns. The quaint Irish town Kinsale in County Cork is known for its restaurants and yachting marina. Or the coastal town of Westport has been noted as a great place to live, especially for those who like outdoor activities.
Cost of Living in Ireland vs the U.S.
The cost of living in Ireland all depends on which city you choose to live and work in and what kind of amenities and lifestyle choices you make. However, on average the cost of living in Ireland in U.S. dollars is about $2,700 per month when you factor in rent, utilities, and other bills, transportation, entertainment, etc.
The average cost of renting in Ireland is about €1,300 per month. In Dublin, the average rent is approximately €2,200 per month. The county with the lowest monthly rent is Leitrim with a rent of approximately €1,000 per month.
When you are looking to work in Ireland as an American, you will likely want to earn at least €3,750 per month or a salary of €45,000 to comfortably afford the cost of living in Ireland.
For a full guide to the cost of living in Ireland vs. the U.S. CLICK HERE.
Do American Expats Need Health Insurance When Living in Ireland?
Even expats should purchase some form of travel insurance when living abroad as their U.S. insurance will likely cover little to nothing of their health expenses in Ireland.
However, expats and people looking to stay in Ireland for an extended amount of time will likely be able to get either a Medical Card (fully entitled to free available public health services) or a GP Visit Card (free doctor visits, but does not include free prescriptions and tests).
People with employment permits, those seeking asylum, students, and anyone with the proper legal documents AND the intention to live in Ireland for more than one year can apply.
If you will not be in Ireland for over a year or plan to do a significant amount of travel outside of Ireland while living abroad, you will want to purchase travel insurance. I use and recommend SafetyWing travel insurance. It is affordable, reliable insurance that is specifically designed for digital nomads who will be traveling long-term.
For an idea of how much insurance will cost you while living abroad, use the tool below. Or, to purchase insurance directly from SafetyWing, CLICK HERE.
Opening a Bank Account in Ireland
You can open a bank account as a resident or a non-resident of Ireland but you will need proof of address to apply. While working in Ireland you will need a bank account to get paid, pay your bills, or buy property.
There are national banks, international banks, and online banks but you will want to only consider banks that are regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.
A maintenance fee is common in Ireland but can typically be avoided by making a recurring monthly deposit or keeping a minimum balance in the account.
There is also a small debit card fee, or a “government stamp duty,” which currently costs €2.50 annually. Many banks in Ireland also charge fees for using outside ATMs, so you will want a bank that has ATM locations that are convenient for you.
What Else Should an American Know Before Accepting a Job and Moving to Ireland?
Weather and Climate in Ireland:
The weather in Ireland is typically mild, wet, and changes often. It drizzles frequently in Dublin, but it does not rain hard very often.
In the winter in Ireland (Jan/Feb) the lowest temperatures can get to about 36°F/2°C. The highest temperatures in the summer (July) are around 68°F/20°C. The average temperature in Ireland is in the 50s°F/9.9°C.
Transportation in Ireland:
Most cities in Ireland are friendly to walkers and bikers in addition to having public transportation.
There are a few bus lines and train services that offer transportation between cities and around the country at an affordable price. For transportation out of the country, there are 5 international airports across Ireland (and 10 total airports).
Exploring Ireland:
PUB CULTURE: Ireland is definitely well known for its pub and drinking culture. It feels like there is a pub on just about every corner and they are where a large majority of events take place. There are constantly people out at night in Dublin enjoying the city.
🍻 The BEST Dublin Pub Crawls and Drinking Experiences (including top pubs and nightclubs!)
In Dublin, you can tour the Guinness Storehouse (this was my favorite tour for a number of reasons, but mostly because it ends with a sky view of Dublin and a pint of Guinness) and Jameson Factory, visit the Book of Kells in Trinity College Dublin’s campus, or view the Dublin Castle.
From Galway, you will not want to miss the Cliffs of Moher, it is one of the top sites to visit in Ireland, and for good reason!
Looking for resources to use for your next trip or move abroad?
CLICK HERE for my favorite travel and expat tools!
Jobs in Ireland for Americans Overview
It is absolutely possible for you to experience living abroad in Ireland! You will need to research the type of visa and work permit needed for your situation, find a job in Ireland to sponsor you, pick a city and place to live, and set yourself up in a new country. Easy, right?
For more information on moving to and living in Ireland, or activities and experiences once you are there, continue on to my Ireland guides.
Related Posts:
☘️FAQs About Ireland☘️
✈️ Where Can You Find the BEST Flight Deals to Ireland?
1. Scott’s Cheap Flights – FREE flight deals alert, works best if you can be flexible
2. Skyscanner – FREE search engine, great for budget flights + deal
❗Is Travel Insurance Required in Ireland?
No, it’s not.
However, it’s always recommended to have travel insurance any time you travel in case of injury, accident, lost luggage, missed flight, etc. The best and most affordable travel/expat insurance is Safety Wing.
>>>CLICK HERE FOR INFO
☔️ When Is the Best Time to Visit Ireland?
Summer (June-August) – is the warmest and rains the least but you will have the most crowds.
Spring (March-May) or Fall (September-November) – are cooler and have more rain but you will beat the crowds and see some incredible wildflowers (spring)/greenery (fall).
🏠 Where Should You Stay in Ireland?
Hotels, hostels, vacation rentals, and house sitting are all available in Ireland for accommodation. My top recommendations for each are:
• Booking.com
• Hostelworld
• Vrbo (usually better options than Airbnb in Ireland)
• Trusted Housesitters (watch a home/pets in return for a FREE place to stay)
☘️ Where Can You Find Tours?
I found incredible tours in Ireland >>>HERE for private and guided group tours of both the most popular attractions and ones that fit your specific interests.
🚘 Should You Rent a Car in Ireland?
I always tell my friends and family to rent a car in Ireland so that they don’t miss out on the gorgeous scenery and wonderful things to do in between the big cities! However, if you plan to stay only in the cities, then you should be fine getting by with buses and walking.
>>> What to know about driving in Ireland
>>> The best car rental in Ireland
🍻 Make sure to try out the pubs! Even if you don’t drink, the atmosphere, live music, and friendly people are very uniquely Irish.
OMG this was so helpful! I am going to Ireland this summer and this is exactly what I was looking for.
So glad I could help! You’re going to have an amazing time in Ireland!