Hiring a automation engineer (plc) in Belgium: pay, scarcity and how to find one
Everything you want to know before you open a vacancy for a automation engineer (plc): what the market pays, how hard the profile is to find, what candidates weigh and how we search.
The facts at a glance
| Market-rate gross range | €3,400 – €5,200 gross per month per month, premiums and benefits excluded; from our role profiles and vacancy data |
|---|---|
| Employer cost per year | €62,118 to €95,004 indication for a full-time white-collar, including employer social security, holiday pay and year-end premium |
| Bottleneck profession | Yes. VDAB lists "Ontwerper industriële automatisering" on the 2026 list of bottleneck professions. |
| Joint committee | often in these committees; the committee follows your company's main activity |
| Statute | white-collar |
Source for scarcity: VDAB, Knelpuntberoepen 2026 (read on 2026-10-03).
Why is a automation engineer (plc) hard to find?
Demand grows faster than the number of graduates, and the knowledge is brand-bound: someone who knows Siemens is not automatically deployable on Rockwell or Beckhoff. Integrators pay well and offer variety, which makes it harder for manufacturers to attract this profile.
Who hires a automation engineer (plc)?
Machine builders, system integrators, engineering firms and manufacturers that automate their own lines, from food to pharma and logistics.
What does a automation engineer (plc) weigh before moving?
Technically interesting projects, a say in the architecture rather than only solving faults, a company car or mobility budget and a realistic number of trips or nights away.
How we search for this profile
We search by platform and application, not by job title: who works on your PLC brand and your type of line today. We also stay in touch with engineers at integrators who want a fixed site after a few years of travelling.
How an assignment runs
- Vacancy intake. We discuss the technical context, the team, responsibilities, salary, must-haves and desired timing.
- Market approach. Active search, network outreach and selection of professionals relevant to your role.
- In-depth screening. We assess experience, technical knowledge, motivation, availability and salary expectations.
- Selective shortlist. We only introduce candidates who have been interviewed and have given their consent.
- Guidance and follow-up. We support interviews, feedback and the offer, and follow up after the start.
What we are looking for right now
A selection of the assignments open today, so you can see in which sectors and regions we are active for this role.
- System Supervisor Baggage Automation · Diegem, Flemish Brabant
- IT/OT Site Reliability Engineer · Kortrijk, West Flanders
- Lead Engineer Instrumentation and Control · Anderlecht, Brussels
- DCS System Administrator · Halle, Flemish Brabant
Need a automation engineer (plc)?
During the intake we discuss the role, the package and the feasibility, and tell you honestly what we can and cannot find. You generally only pay when you hire someone.
Frequently asked questions
What does a automation engineer (plc) cost as an employer?
On top of the gross salary you pay employer social security, holiday pay and usually a year-end premium. For the market-rate range that comes to roughly €62,118 to €95,004 per year as an indication. The employer cost calculator works it out for your own amount and statute.
Is automation engineer (plc) a bottleneck profession?
The answer is in the facts above, with the cause VDAB gives. The list is renewed every year; we re-read it at every new edition.
Which joint committee covers a automation engineer (plc)?
The joint committee follows your company's main activity, not the role. This profile usually sits in PC 209, PC 207, PC 220, PC 200. Our sector pages give the pay scale, the indexation and the premiums per committee.
What do I pay AltusConnect?
In most assignments you only pay when you hire someone, as a percentage of the gross annual salary or as a fixed amount. If the hire ends within the guarantee period, we find a replacement free of charge. We do not ask for exclusivity. The details are on the page about how we work and charge.