Average weekly earnings in the public sector excluding health rose by 4.6 per cent the year to September 2002, according to figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
The CSO said the index of average earnings, which excludes some effects of changes in employment composition, rose by 4.9 per cent for the same period.
A total of 232,200 people were employed in the Public Sector (excluding Health) in September 2002 compared to 224,500 in September 2001.
This rise is mainly comprised of an increase of 6,200 in the education sector, a rise of 1,700 in the regional bodies, and an increase of 1,000 in the civil service.
Prison officers emerged as the biggest earners with a gross weekly pay, of €1,054.82; members of the Garda Siochana earned €926.07.
In the education sector, the average weekly pay was €728.