FCI: 80% of Irish agricultural drivers earning €15-20/hr
The median gross hourly wage rate for agricultural machinery operators working in agricultural contractor fleets in Ireland in 2025, is between €15-20/hour, according to the Association of Farm and Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI).
The association recently carried out a nationwide contractor wage survey which found that all of the respondents reported paying their operators gross rates of between €15–€25/hour.
The FCI noted that no respondents reported paying their operators above €25/hour and only 19% reported paying gross wage rates of between €21-25/hour.
The figures show that the most experienced operators working in agricultural contractor teams are commanding gross wage rates of between €21-25/hour.
FCI
The survey found that the majority of operators are receiving a gross wage of between €15-20/hour.
For most agricultural contractor businesses, the FCI believes that gross hourly wage rates above these levels are unsustainable in the current economic environment.
The association added that agricultural contractors are also constrained in terms of gross hourly wage rates by level of costs, as contractor charges, that can be viably passed on to their farming clients.
This is reflected in an analysis of the Teagasc National Farm Survey, over a period of ten years, which has shown that the cost of contracting services to Irish farms remains at 14% of total direct costs.
The FCI said that owners of contracting businesses have to provide funding for employers PRSI, insurance and take account downtime pay due to weather impacts along with other miscellaneous costs.
It said that this means that the actual cost of labour is already significantly higher than the actual gross wage rate received by the operator on an hourly basis.
'These findings are in line with FCI's Contractor Charges Guide for 2025 which FCI produces every year from consultation with agricultural contractor members and sector colleagues.
'FCI continues to work with members and industry colleagues to promote fair employment and safe practices as well as provide skilled career opportunities for machine operators within the industry, which now has an annual gross turnover in excess of €950 million,' the association said.
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