Automation contractors — DeltaV, Siemens PCS7, Rockwell, PLC and MES specialists — are among the scarcest skills in Irish pharma. Every new line, tech transfer and digital plant programme competes for the same pool, and rates reflect it.
Market Floor
€480
per day
Market Average
€590
per day
Top Rate
€700
per day
Generic salary guides don’t cut it for Irish contractors. Revenue’s PRSI Class S rules, the USC surcharge over €100k, pension relief at marginal rate — these compound in ways that make a spreadsheet essential before you accept any offer.
DayRate.ie calculates your floor rate with full 2026 Revenue compliance — so you walk into negotiations knowing exactly what €590/day actually means for your take-home.
Automation engineers typically bill €60–€88 an hour, around €480–€700 a day. DeltaV and MES specialists on major capital projects reach the upper end, particularly on shutdown and commissioning phases.
Substantially. The same PLC skills earn noticeably less outside regulated manufacturing — GMP documentation, GAMP 5 and validation-aware delivery are what the pharma premium is paying for.
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