IT Infrastructure Salary Guide 2026

The IT Search IT Infrastructure Salary Guide Ireland 2026 is based on responses from 633 Ireland-based technology professionals. It's designed to give clients an accurate, up-to-date view of the IT Infrastructure talent market, covering salary expectations, motivations, and hiring trends for the year ahead. Our thanks go to the clients, candidates, and partners whose participation made this research possible.

In 2026, we expect the Infrastructure sector to enter a mature consolidation phase. While the Cloud workforce will continue to expand, we are seeing employers shift focus away from aggressive headcount growth towards strategic hiring – prioritising the right blend of skills to support hybrid, cloud-native, and AI-driven environments.

2026 Forecast

  • Hiring demand: Stable overall, with growth concentrated in multi-cloud, automation, and security-enhanced roles.
  • Skills in demand: Hybrid infrastructure management, scripting/automation, cloud security, multi-cloud deployment.
  • AI in Infrastructure: Automation, observability, and AIOps tools are reshaping infrastructure roles. Employers will seek engineers who can combine traditional infra knowledge with
    scripting, automation, and AI-enhanced monitoring.
  • Security-First Hiring: With heightened regulation and cyber risk, many infrastructure roles will require security skills by default. Network and Cloud Engineers with cybersecurity
    certifications are commanding premium salaries.
  • Cloud Specialisation: AWS, Azure, and GCP remain the dominant platforms, but demand is strongest for multi-cloud expertise, especially within larger enterprises balancing cost,
    resilience, and compliance obligations.
  • Contract Market: Contractor demand continues to rise as firms seek flexibility to deliver major projects, particularly in network upgrades, cloud migrations, and compliance initiatives.

How much do IT Infrastructure professionals earn in Ireland?

Position Junior (1-3 yrs) Mid (3-6 yrs) Senior (6+ yrs) Contract Mid-Level Daily Rate
Tech Support Level 1–3 €35,000 - 45,000 €45,000 - 65,000 €65,000 - 80,000 €175 - 325
Field Service Engineer €40,000 - 50,000 €50,000 - 65,000 €65,000 - 80,000 €275 - 375
App Support Engineer L1–3 €35,000 - 45,000 €45,000 - 65,000 €65,000 - 90,000 €275 - 425
Windows Systems Administrator €40,000 - 50,000 €50,000 - 65,000 €65,000 - 85,000 €375 - 575
Linux Systems Administrator €40,000 - 55,000 €55,000 - 80,000 €80,000 - 110,000 €425 - 650
Network Engineer (CCNP) €45,000 - 60,000 €60,000 - 75,000 €75,000 - 85,000 €375 - 525
Network Architect (CCIE) €90,000 - 100,000 €100,000 - 120,000 €525 - 850
Database Administrator €45,000 - 60,000 €60,000 - 85,000 €85,000 - 105,000 €475 - 675
IT Manager €85,000 - 95,000 €95,000 - 120,000 €425 - 650

If you have any queries in regards to the salary survey or infrastructure recruitment related, contact Ronan on +353 87 790 8386 or email ronan.oconnor@itsearch.ie.

IT Search Tech Salary Guide for 2026

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