Guidance for Managers on choosing an Hourly Administrative rate
When hiring an hourly paid administrative employee, it’s important to select a rate of pay that reflects the level and type of work being done. The guidance below provides practical overview to help managers make the right choice, ensuring consistency, fairness, and compliance with university guidelines.
When hiring an Administrative Hourly Paid Employee, you are required to choose a rate of pay appropriate to the work being done. The Hourly Administrative range has 11 rates as per the Table below:
| Admin Hourly Rate Range | €17.34 | €20.20 | €25.25 | €30.30 | €35.35 | €40.40 | €50.50 | €60.60 | €70.70 | €80.80 | €95.95 |
These Administrative rates are to be used for hourly administrative work in you School / Unit. Adhoc value rates are no longer to be used. The National Minimum wage of €13.50 remains as a stand-alone rate.
The table below is for illustration and guidance purposes only to give an indication of where each rate falls in relation to the University Administrative grades from EA up to SAOI.
Important Note:
The higher rates (pt 8 to pt 11 in green on both tables) can be only used in exceptional circumstances for highly skilled staff (e.g. Legal expertise, treasury management expertise etc). The UMT have asked that a note on the use of higher rates be brought to the meeting in approx 6 months. In order for this request to be accommodated, you are required to email the justification for the higher rate to (opens in a new window)helpdesk@ucd.ie.
| 01/08/2025 | 01/08/2025 | ||||
| 01/08/2025 | Hrly rate_range of scale | Average Annual Range of scale | Hourly Rates Guide | ||
| Minimum Wage | €13.50 | ||||
| EA | pt1 | €32,031.00 | €17.54 | €31.5K - €48K | Rate 1 - €17.34 |
| Max | €48,430.00 | €26.52 | Rate 2 - €20.20 | ||
| SEA | pt1 | €46,703.00 | €25.57 | €46K - €56.5K | Rate 3 - €25.25 |
| Max | €56,831.00 | €31.12 | |||
| AOII | pt1 | €51,484.00 | €28.19 | €51K - €65K | Rate 4 - €30.30 |
| Max | €65,806.00 | €36.03 | |||
| AOI | pt1 | €52,815.00 | €28.92 | €52K - €71.5K | Rate 5 - €35.35 |
| Max | €71,492.00 | €39.15 | |||
| AOIA | pt1 | €71,317.00 | €39.05 | €71K - €83K | Rate 6 - €40.40 |
| Max | €83,337.00 | €45.63 | |||
| SAOIV | pt1 | €70,037.00 | €38.35 | €70K - €111K | Rate 7 - €50.50 |
| Max | €111,200.00 | €60.89 | |||
| SAOIII | pt1 | €91,282.00 | €49.98 | €91K - €129K | Rate 8 - €60.60 |
| Max | €128,912.00 | €70.59 | |||
| SAOII | pt1 | €110,024.00 | €60.24 | €110K - €147K | Rate 9 - €70.70 |
| Max | €147,066.00 | €80.53 | |||
| SAOI | pt1 | €144,298.00 | €79.01 | €144K - €182K | Rate 10 - €80.80 |
| Max | €182,427.00 | €99.89 | Rate 11 - €95.95 |
Selecting the Right Payment Type
The Standard Hourly Rate is the default option for most hourly-paid roles and only in exceptional circumstances should Ad-Hoc Payments be used.
1. Standard Hourly Rate
Use when the role requires the standard hourly rate.
Use the Standard Hourly Rate when:
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The work is regular or recurring
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The role is covered by an existing University rate (e.g. Tutor, Demonstrator, Research Assistant)
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The duties and hours align with typical roles already defined by HR
2. Ad-Hoc Payment
Use this in exceptional circumstances where the work should only be used when standard University hourly rates are not suitable for the nature of the work.
Use an Ad-Hoc Payment when:
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The individual is delivering occasional or one-off services
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The service is related to teaching, research, technical or other support roles
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The standard University hourly rates are not appropriate for the work
All Ad-Hoc payments are processed through the monthly payroll and are subject to PAYE and PRSI, like regular salaries.
Page updated 30th July 2025
Common hourly paid rates
| Position Description | Position Code | Pt | 2010 Rate (01/08/2025) |
| Casual Rate | 3039_X | 1 | € 13.91 |
| Casual Rate | 3039_X | 2 | € 14.09 |
| Temp Exec Assistant (Hourly) - New since 01/07/13 | 7921 | 1 | € 17.34 |
| National Minimum Wage | 5185_X | 1 | € 13.50 (effective 01 Jan 2025) |
| Occasional Lecturer | 5001_X | 1 | € 100.74 |
Tutor / Demonstrator Rates
| Position Description | 2010 Rate (01/08/2025) |
| Senior Postgraduate Demonstrator | € 25.91 |
| Postgraduate Demonstrator | € 21.57 |
| Undergraduate Demonstrator | € 13.91 |
| Tutor | € 36.72 |
| Professional Practice Tutor (School of Education & Lifelong Learning only) | € 48.40 |
| Essays marked (per essay) | € 1.35 |
| Major essays marked (per essay) | € 2.82 |
| Question scripts marked (per script) | € 0.94 |
Other hourly rates
| Position Description | Position Code | Pt | 2010 Rate ( 01/08/2025) |
| Hdip Healthcare (Risk Mngt) | 5163_X | 1 | € 140.20 |
| Professional Placement Super per visit (School of Education & Lifelong Learning) | 5073_X | 1 | € 86.65 |
| Professional Placement Tutor per visit (School of Education & Lifelong Learning) | 5074_X | 1 | € 48.40 |
| Services Assistant | 5242_X | 1 | € 15.81 |
| Services Assistant | 5242_X | 2 | € 19.78 |
| Sports_Children’s Sports Group | 5256_X | 1 | € 23.59 |
| Sports_Public Yoga/Pilates classes | 5259_X | 1 | € 56.07 |
| Sports_Senior Climbing Instructor | 5262_X | 1 | € 17.71 |
Contact the HR Helpdesk
The HR Helpdesk is the primary point of contact for all your employment-related queries by email and telephone. We are here to help you with any queries on employee benefits, terms & conditions and HR policies & procedures. If we can’t help you directly, we will refer your query to a HR specialist area.
All visitors to UCD HR, Roebuck offices should be by appointment only and arrangements to be made with specific HR staff members.
(opens in a new window)hrhelpdesk@ucd.ie
+ 353-1-716-4900
UCD HR
Roebuck Offices,
UCD Belfield Campus.