Pharma contract rate of 400euro per day or salary of 80K?

Just another fangirl · 08-01-2026 01:45PM #1

Any advice for someone working in Pharma in recent times to be a PAYE Employee or try Contracting.

Has anyone gone for contracting and regretted it? I have always been a PAYE employee but am not getting the current rate as per industry. I dont get any health insurance or pension just annual leaves and sick leaves. TIA

Aisling(",) · 09-01-2026 04:13PM

On paper its a no brainer. If you work 220 days a year (5 day week with 6 weeks holiday and the 10 bank holidays taken off) you'll have a base pre tax income of €176,000.

However, you need to look at it from a pragmatic stand point. Would you get that many days work a year? Would it be contracting within a company or more freelance and adhoc. Are you the type of person who can deal with that level of uncertainty? What happens if you get sick?

apkmbarry · 09-01-2026 04:50PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124133118#Comment_124133118

220*400 is €88k. You'll still have every other expense to account for, holidays, pension, sick leave etc. I wouldn't be in a rush to leave the PAYE role for that.

Yeah Right · 09-01-2026 05:01PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124133118#Comment_124133118

It's a no-brainer if you use the wrong daily figure alright.

€400 per day for 225 days is €90k before tax annually.

Royale with Cheese · 09-01-2026 05:06PM

I've been contracting for 10+ years, albeit in IT. You should be looking for way more than a less than 10% increase on the base pay for an equivalent full time role to consider it. I've had roles where the equivalent full time base pay would be around €80k and the contracting rate for those would have been 500-550.

mrslancaster · 09-01-2026 05:21PM

400pd is a better deal for the business.

Aisling(",) · 12-01-2026 01:02PM

Jesus my maths went shocking there. Apologies!

Pharma contract rate of 400euro per day or salary of 80K?

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