Project Management & Change Salary Guide 2026
For the IT Search Project Management Salary Guide Ireland 2026, we surveyed 633 Ireland-based technology professionals to gain deeper insight into how the Project Management jobs market is expected to perform in 2026. and what drives the people within it. We hope this data helps our clients make smarter, more confident decisions around retaining and attracting top Project Management talent. A huge thank you to all the clients, candidates, and partners who made this possible.
Project Management and Change professionals are expected to remain at the nucleus of digital transformation across all sectors in 2026. While technology is reshaping delivery models, the role of skilled Project and Change leaders has only grown in importance as organisations balance large-scale transformation, regulatory compliance, and AI implementation.
Permanent recruitment was slow overall in 2025, and there was a significant drop in candidate movement, with only 1% of professionals changing jobs versus 8% the year before. Contracting very much became the preferred model in 2025, and we expect this trend to continue for H1 of 2026.
Automation and AI tools are streamlining administrative project tasks, which places a premium on Project Managers with strong technical literacy and domain expertise. Stakeholder management, agile delivery, and cross-sector knowledge (particularly in financial services, pharma, and technology) will remain key differentiators for candidates.
2026 Forecast
- Hiring demand: Expected growth overall of 5–7%, with contract roles continuing to outpace permanent hiring in the first half of the year.
- Permanent hiring: Forecast to strengthen in second half of 2026 as large-scale transformation programmes expand.
- Skills in demand: Agile delivery, regulatory programme expertise, AI-enabled project management, and stakeholder engagement.
- Hybrid Working: Noticeable shift towards increased onsite requirements, particularly in regulated industries
How much do Project Management professionals earn in Ireland?
Position
Junior
(1-3 yrs)
Mid
(3-6 yrs)
Senior
(6+ yrs)
Mid - Level Contract Daily Rate
Senior/Lead Contract Daily Rate
Project
Coordinator
€40,000 - 45,000
€45,000 - 50,000
€50,000 - 55,000
€350 - 400
€400 - 425
Business
Analyst
€35,000 - 50,000
€50,000 - 70,000
€70,000 - 90,000
€450 - 500
€550 - 650
Service Delivery
manager
€80,000 - 90,000
€90,000 - 100,000
€100,000 - 115,000
€500 - 550
€550 - 650
Change
Manager
€50,000 - 55,000
€60,000 - 75,000
€75,000 - 100,000
€500 - 550
€550 - 700
Project
Manager
€50,000 - 70,000
€70,000 - 85,000
€85,000 - 110,000
€500 - 550
€550 - 700
Programme
Manager
€100,000 - 110,000
€110,000 - 120,000
€120,000 - 140,000
€650 - 700
€700 - 800
Programme
Director
€120,000 -140,000
€140,000 - 160,000
€850+
Head of
PMO
€120,000 -140,000
€140,000 - 160,000
€850+
Director of
PMO
€140,000 - 160,000
€160,000+
€1000+
If you have any queries in regards to the salary survey or Project Management & Change recruitment related, contact Neil on +353 1 507 9269 or email neil.mcdonald@itsearch.ie.
IT Search Tech Salary Guide for 2026
Download the full IT Search Salary Guide 2026 to benchmark your salary or to discover what your business should be paying to attract top talent in a competitive market.
Resources
Meet the team
As the core of recruitment is finding top talent, it only makes sense that we ensure we work alongside the very best in the market. We are a group of like-minded technical recruiters who put people at the core of everything we do. Our specialist technical recruitment consultants have the capacity to build teams, appoint leaders and nurture the careers of technology professionals in all locations across permanent and contract roles.
View more
