Pressed for time but need decent pay? Here's a practical list of ten flexible part-time jobs in Ireland for 2026 that can fit around studying, parenting or another job. Quick-reference first, then a detailed breakdown, how to apply, practical tips and regional differences.

Quick-reference summary

  • Private tutoring often pays well — many tutors charge in the mid-twenties to higher rates per hour, and you can usually pick your evenings and weekends.
  • 2. HSE / healthcare bank roles — €28–€40/hr; higher pay, professional rules.
  • 3. Freelance digital work (writing, design, dev) — €20–€60+/hr; remote, scalable.
  • 4. Delivery driver/courier (Just Eat, Deliveroo, DPD) — €12–€18/hr + tips.
  • 5. University student ambassador / research assistant — €12–€22/hr; campus-friendly.
  • 6. Retail & hospitality (Penneys, Dunnes, local pubs) — €11–€18/hr incl tips.
  • 7. Childcare / nannying — €12–€18/hr; steady demand, vetting required.
  • 8. Temp office/admin through agencies (CPL, Hays, Sigmar) — €14–€24/hr.
  • 9. Fitness instructor / personal trainer — €20–€45/session; flexible slots.
  • 10. Seasonal agricultural & events work — €11–€16/hr; good for short bursts.

Ranked list — 1 to 10

1. Private tutoring

Key features: One-to-one or small-group lessons, in-person or online; common subjects are maths, English, science and Irish Leaving Cert prep. You set hours around student needs — evenings and weekends are busiest.

  • Pros: Highest per-hour pay on this list, easy to scale, great for students and teachers.
  • Cons: Income can be irregular; you’ll need to find pupils (platforms help but take a cut).
  • Who it’s best for: Former teachers, current university students, subject specialists.
  • Pricing: €25–€50 per hour depending on subject and level; Dublin rates often at the top end.

2. HSE / healthcare bank roles (healthcare assistants, admin)

HSE and private hospitals often hire casual or 'bank' staff for shifts — roles can include healthcare assistants, admin and portering work. Requires Garda vetting and appropriate certificates for clinical tasks.

  • The upside is that qualified clinical staff can get solid pay and benefits, though shifts can be long and unsociable.
  • Cons: Rigid rules, mandatory training, irregular hours including nights.
  • Who it’s best for: Qualified healthcare workers, nursing students looking for relevant experience.
  • Pay varies widely — clinical bank roles typically pay more than support or admin duties, though exact rates depend on employer and experience.

3. Freelance digital work (web dev, design, writing)

Freelance digital work is mostly project-based and remote; you can pick up a single assignment or juggle several short jobs depending on your bandwidth.

  • Pros: High upside if you build a portfolio; you can work from anywhere in Ireland.
  • Cons: Need to find and manage clients; income varies month to month.
  • Who it’s best for: Creatives, coders, marketers, experienced self-starters.
  • Pricing: €20–€60+ per hour; small projects from €50–€500, larger contracts much more.

4. Delivery driver / courier (Just Eat, Deliveroo, DPD, An Post)

Key features: Flexible shifts, immediate start for many apps. You can pick hours that suit nights, weekends or weekdays.

  • Delivery driving can provide quick money and tips can boost earnings — you just need reliable transport like a bike or car.
  • Cons: Wear and tear on vehicle, weather exposure, variable earnings by area and time.
  • It suits students or anyone after evening and weekend shifts — especially if you already have a bike or a car.
  • Pricing: €12–€18 per hour plus tips; busy evenings in city centres can boost hourly take.

5. University student ambassador / research assistant

Key features: On-campus roles run by universities (UCD, Trinity, UCC, NUI Galway). Jobs include open-day support, admin, lab assistance and paid research tasks.

  • These campus roles usually fit around lecture timetables, look good on a CV and are often listed on student careers pages.
  • Cons: Seasonal; hours drop during holidays at some institutions.
  • Who it’s best for: Current students who want campus-friendly hours.
  • Pricing: €12–€22 per hour depending on role and university.

6. Retail & hospitality (Penneys, Dunnes, local pubs)

Key features: Classic part-time roles with lots of openings at weekends and evenings. Hospitality roles include front-of-house, bar work and kitchen porter jobs.

Mastheads
  • Retail and hospitality jobs are easy to pick up, offer tips in busy venues and tend to have steady shifts during peak hours.
  • Cons: Shifts at antisocial hours, customer-facing stress.
  • Who it’s best for: Students, first-timers, people who like social environments.
  • Pricing: €11–€15 per hour for retail; hospitality €11–€18 per hour including tips.

7. Childcare / nannying

Key features: Babysitting, after-school care, or live-in/out nannying. Garda vetting and references are standard; some parents expect First Aid certification.

  • Pros: Regular weekly hours possible, rewarding work, evenings and weekend work is common.
  • Cons: High responsibility, vetting and paperwork, emotional toll.
  • Who it’s best for: Experienced parents, students studying education or childcare.
  • Pricing: €12–€18 per hour; full-time nannying paid weekly or monthly at higher rates.

8. Temp office / admin via agencies (CPL, Hays, Sigmar, Manpower)

Key features: Short-term office roles, holiday cover and event admin. Agencies place thousands of part-time and temporary workers every year.

  • Pros: Quick placements, skill-building, potential to go permanent.
  • Cons: Can be repetitive; agency fees sometimes reduce take-home pay.
  • Who it’s best for: Graduates, people wanting office experience.
  • Pricing: €14–€24 per hour depending on skill level and city.

9. Fitness instructor / personal trainer

Key features: Group classes, one-to-one training, freelancing through gyms like Energia or local studios. Qualifications required for PT roles.

  • Pros: Flexible hours, evenings and weekends busiest, repeat clients build steady income.
  • Cons: Requires certification, income tied to client base.
  • Who it’s best for: Qualified instructors, sports science students.
  • Pricing: €20–€45 per session; classes are usually cheaper per person but add up.

10. Seasonal agricultural & events work

Key features: Fruit picking, farm work and festival/event staff. Work tends to cluster around summers and harvests.

  • Pros: Intense short-term earnings, good if you want blocks of work.
  • Cons: Physically demanding, seasonal and often rural.
  • Who it’s best for: Students on summer break, temporary workers.
  • Pricing: €11–€16 per hour; sometimes paid by task (piece rates) rather than hourly.

How we chose these roles

We picked jobs that balance flexibility, realistic pay and accessibility in Ireland in 2026. The aim was practical — not just headline pay, but how easy it's to get work, what training or vetting is needed, and whether the job fits around study or family life. Pay ranges reflect real listings across Dublin, Cork, Galway and regional classifieds during 2025–26, plus advertised bank rates for HSE and agency placements. We ranked roles by a combination of typical hourly pay, flexibility and long-term prospects.

How to apply and access these jobs

Steps that make getting part-time work easier in Ireland:

  • Get a PPS number — essential for PAYE tax and pensions (apply through mygov.ie).
  • Have a basic CV and short cover letter tailored to each role; list availability by week.
  • Register with temp agencies (CPL, Hays, Sigmar, Manpower) for admin and retail gigs.
  • Sign up to gig platforms — Just Eat, Deliveroo and DPD are active in Irish cities. Check app requirements for ID and insurance.
  • For childcare and healthcare roles, organise Garda vetting and relevant certificates (First Aid, QCF or QQI for childcare, nursing qualifications for HSE bank roles).
  • Students: use your university careers service — many universities list paid research and ambassador roles directly to students.
  • Freelancers: build a simple portfolio and use Irish job boards (Indeed.ie, Jobs.ie, IrishJobs.ie) plus freelance marketplaces to pick up the first clients.

Practical tips to make part-time work pay

  • Track your hours and tax: if you do more than one job, make sure Revenue has correct details to avoid overtaxation.
  • Negotiate for a small premium if you work unsocial hours — evening and weekend rates are common in hospitality.
  • Combine gigs smartly — for example, tutoring two evenings a week plus weekend delivery can hit good weekly earnings without burning out.
  • Invest in training where it pays off — a recognised childcare or fitness qualification often bumps up rates substantially.
  • Keep receipts and records if you’re freelancing — deductible expenses reduce tax bills.

Regional differences — what to expect outside Dublin

Dublin still pays a premium. Expect 10–25% higher hourly rates in the capital compared with regional centres, but rent and living costs are higher too. Cork and Galway offer a middle ground — competitive pay in hospitality and tutoring. Rural counties have fewer office and freelance roles but stronger demand for agricultural, seasonal and childcare work. If flexibility is the priority, remote freelance work or online tutoring levels the playing field — you can live in Limerick or Sligo and charge Dublin rates for online clients.

Quick UK & student guidance

For those comparing with the UK, the Office for National Statistics shows the average part-time worker in the UK does roughly 21–22 hours per week; that’s a useful benchmark when planning hours. UCAS advice for students suggests keeping paid work to around 10–15 hours a week during term-time so study doesn’t suffer — that’s a sensible rule of thumb for Leaving Cert students and undergraduates juggling assignments and classes.

Related Articles

  • Ireland Teaching Salary Scale 2026 — Pay by Region and Experience

Part-time work in Ireland in 2026 means choices — high-paying, skilled roles like tutoring and healthcare bank shifts sit alongside flexible, easy-entry gigs such as delivery and hospitality. Pick work that matches your stage of life: students and parents often prioritise predictable weekly hours, while freelancers and healthcare workers may chase higher hourly pay. And don’t forget the basics — PPS, Garda vetting where needed, and clear records for tax. If flexibility and decent pay are the goals, this list gives a realistic starting point — then it’s about lining up the first shifts and building from there.

This article was created with AI assistance.