The Sales sector continues to evolve as organisations adopt more selective hiring practices and place greater emphasis on proven performance and adaptability. This 2026 Salary Guide benchmarks market activity from 2025, highlighting in-demand sales skills, current salary ranges and how employers are balancing salary expectations, flexibility and performance to attract and retain top talent across Ireland.

Salary Increases Driven by High Bar

Across 2026, we expect to see salaries increase within the sales industry. The key driver is that companies are being very conservative in their hiring, aiming to secure candidates with as close to 100% of the required skillset as possible. This narrows the pool of qualified candidates, allowing them to demand more for their skills. Candidates are also risk-averse, meaning it takes a compelling argument to move them. While salary isn't the only factor, it remains a decisive one.

Sales Job Market Outlook 2026: Skills Selectivity, Hybrid Expectations and Salary Pressure

AI Adoption and Adaptation

AI is a major focus. We are seeing that companies will be looking for candidates who are adapting to AI, not those pushing against it, and will be asking how candidates have used AI-based tech to improve performance. Recruitment technology is also playing a bigger role, with AI bots appearing more in CV screening. This means applicants must ensure their application is as close as possible to the job specification.

Shift from Remote

Job opportunities in Ireland in 2026 will be less remote-focused and will continue to move towards in-office or hybrid models. We observe that new hires are often expected to be in the office for the first six months, with flexibility introduced after that. This flexibility may only be one or two days at home, so the commute and its long-term impact are key considerations for candidates.

Cybersecurity Sector Growth

We anticipate that the cybersecurity sector will continue to rise. As new ways of attacking businesses are created, new solutions to defend against them will be needed, representing a significant growth area for sales roles.

The Need for Team Engagement

Candidates are increasingly looking for jobs where they feel part of a team. This presents a challenge for roles that are predominantly remote or isolated, as employers must now focus on how to build a strong culture of inclusivity to retain effective people.