The average gross hourly rate for machinery operators working for agricultural contractors in Ireland ranges from €15-20/hr.
All respondents in a nationwide contractor wage survey carried out by the Association of Farm and Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI) confirm paying their operators gross rates of between €15-€25/hr. Nearly one fifth of respondents pay €21-€25/hr, and the survey reveals that not a single contractor exceeds a gross hourly rate of €25.
These figures confirm that the most experienced machine operators command gross wage rates from €21-€25/hr, while the majority (80%) are paid a more realistic hourly rate of €15-€20.
Given the current economic climate, and the difficulty in passing on extra costs to clients, FCI believes that gross hourly wage rates above these levels are unsustainable for most Irish agricultural contracting businesses.
FCI has around 400 contractor members, and the Irish contracting industry is estimated to generate an annual turnover of over €950 million.
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