Salaries in New Zealand - How do they compare for your industry? Move to NZ (2024)

How do New Zealand salaries compare?

What is the average salary in New Zealand? New Zealand wages vary greatly by industry and we also record regional variations: as a guideline, salaries are higher where the cost of living and housing is dearer.

The median income in New Zealand is just under NZ$29.66 per hour as of February 2023 (NZD$61,692.80) per annum based on a 40-hour week). There is also a minimum wage in New Zealand under which you cannot be paid legally.

Are you eligible to move to New Zealand? Take our assessment!

Salary proportional to qualification level

Your level of qualification will have a big effect on how much you can get paid in New Zealand with a Bachelor’s degree reported to earn up to 40% over the average income. The higher the qualification, the more you will earn. However, the subjects you studied, your work experience, the demand for your skills in New Zealand, and how well you can negotiate your entry salary will have an effect too. For instance in 2016, the highest paid Bachelor degree holders were in medical fields. The most successful diploma holders were in engineering. Getting a New Zealand qualification may also give you the leading edge in your search for skilled employment.

Research to determine your expectations

It is important to fully research the expected rates of salary for your given skills and work experience. It is also important to look into the cost of living in New Zealand which is generally considered high compared to the salaries offered. The trade-off is well recognised as the lifestyle that New Zealand brings and the environment to raise your children. Generally speaking, the average salary is lower than that of the UK and US (in 2012 the average salary for those working in New Zealand, based on the Purchasing Power Parity scale was $2,283, compared to $3,263 for the US and $3,065 for the UK), but being an average, some sectors do offer comparable salary rates.

Consider the other benefits

Your job offer may include non-monetary benefits

Many New Zealand companies offer more non-monetary benefits to their employees when compared with businesses in other countries. Company cars, company telephones, paid meals or fitness centre registrations are all often included in remuneration packages. Paid annual leave, however, may be slightly less than is common in the UK, with the average being 20 days per year. Another important point to note is that salaries are negotiable, to an extent, and most businesses do not advertise remuneration packages in job advertisem*nts, so it will help to do your research beforehand to get an idea of what you should expect, or what you think you are worth. New Zealand Shores offers assistance and advice on your likely salary and the additional benefits that you can negotiate for each position.

The highest paid jobs are…

The highest paid sectors in New Zealand over the last 5 years have been mining, electricity, gas and water supply, finance and information technology. In particular, employment positions in IT sales, digital architecture, and financial controlling regularly rank as the highest paid jobs in the country, along with doctors. The lowest paid jobs in New Zealand, relative to qualifications and experience, are all in the services sector, with hotel receptionists, waiters/waitresses and bar staff regularly being rated right at the bottom of the scale.

Salary guide as at April 2022 (source: Trademe). Average per industry:

  • Accounting $82k
  • Agriculture, fishing & forestry $60k
  • Architecture $81k
  • Automotive $65k
  • Banking, finance & insurance $85k
  • Construction & roading $72k
  • Customer service $53k
  • Education $62k
  • Engineering $80k
  • Executive & general management $116k
  • Government & council $82k
  • Healthcare $64k
  • Hospitality & tourism $54k
  • HR & recruitment $83k
  • IT $124k
  • Legal $81k
  • Manufacturing & operations $54k
  • Marketing, media & communications $80k
  • Office & administration $57k
  • Property $80k
  • Retail $54k
  • Sales $71k
  • Science & technology $84k
  • Trades & services $61k
  • Transport & logistics $58k

To find out more information, please refer to the Government’s Careers website, the MBIE, Trademe, and Seek.

Education Counts

Careers website (salary guide)

Careers website (salary by field of study)

Salaries in New Zealand - How do they compare for your industry? Move to NZ (2024)

FAQs

Salaries in New Zealand - How do they compare for your industry? Move to NZ? ›

New Zealand wages vary greatly by industry and we also record regional variations: as a guideline, salaries are higher where the cost of living and housing is dearer. The median income in New Zealand is just under NZ$29.66 per hour as of February 2023 (NZD$61,692.80) per annum based on a 40-hour week).

How much salary is enough in New Zealand? ›

Experience Wise Average Wage in New Zealand
Experience LevelAverage Pay Rates NZSalary in INR
0-3 YearsNZD 85,00040.48 Lakhs
4-9 YearsNZD 140,00070.66 Lakhs
10-20 YearsNZD 184,00092.87 Lakhs
20+ YearsNZD 300,0001.5 Cr
Mar 18, 2024

How do salaries work in New Zealand? ›

The difference between a salary and a wage is that salaried work usually involves being paid a set amount per year. Your employment contract will tell you how much you're expected to work (for example. 40 hours per week), and the amount you're paid is consistent from pay cheque to pay cheque.

What is New Zealand's salary like? ›

According to the latest figures, the average salary in New Zealand per month is 8,200 NZD or 97,300 NZD per year. As of 2023, the gross minimum salary in New Zealand is 21.20 NZD per hour. Salaries range from 24,600 NZD to 434,000 NZD per year and include housing, transport, and other benefits.

Why do the average salaries of workers in different industries vary so much? ›

Large differences in wages may be the result of a combination of factors, such as industry of employment, geographic location, and worker skill. To identify occupations with big wage differences, this article looks at percentile wages. Percentile wages show how workers' pay varies.

Is $30 an hour good in NZ? ›

Workers aged 20 to 24 have a median hourly rate of $26 (in line with the current living wage) and median weekly income of $1008. That works out to $52,416 a year. Those in their late twenties earn a median weekly income of $1247 at a rate of $30 an hour.

Is $100,000 a good salary in New Zealand? ›

“This proportion rose to around 1.9% in 2003, with 38,400 earning $100,000-plus. By 2013, this proportion had risen to 5.9%, with 137,800 people earning above $100,000-plus. In 2023, a considerable 15.6% of Kiwi wage and salary earners earnt $100,000-plus, with 442,000 doing so.”

Is 70k a good salary in New Zealand? ›

New data has found New Zealand's average salary has reached a new high, with every region seeing an increase. According to Trade Me, this is the first time the average salary in Aotearoa has crossed the $70,000 mark.

What is the basic living wage in NZ? ›

'The Living Wage is the income necessary to provide workers and their families with the basic necessities of life. A living wage enables workers to live with dignity and to participate as active citizens in society. ' From 1 September 2024, the Living Wage hourly rate is $27.80.

What is a high income salary in New Zealand? ›

Here is the summary of the 15 Best highest paid jobs in NZ
S.NoJobsSalary Range (Per Year)
1Information Technology Manager$110K-$180K
2Building and Construction Manager$92K-$224K
3Information Technology Architect$140K-$200K
4Marketing Manager$96K-$230K
11 more rows
May 3, 2024

Does New Zealand have free healthcare? ›

Overview. New Zealand's healthcare system comprises of public, private, and voluntary sectors. Around 85% of New Zealand's healthcare is government funded. New Zealand citizens receive free or subsidized healthcare.

What is New Zealand's main income? ›

The foundation of New Zealand's economy is the export of agricultural commodities such as dairy products, meat, forest products, fruit and vegetables, and wine. Dairy, New Zealand's largest export commodity group making up 28% of all exports totaled approximately US$13 billion.

How much is rent in New Zealand? ›

The rent cost in New Zealand largely depends on the location. Rent in New Zealand is calculated weekly. The average rent in New Zealand is approximately NZD 400 a week for a small home (one or two bedrooms) and NZD 530 for a two- or four-bedroom apartment or house.

Why do salaries differ? ›

Wage difference among workers within an occupation is often a function of industry and employer. Employer success, market dominance, corporate culture and clientele are all factors influencing how much an employer is willing to pay its employees.

When comparing the salaries of different careers why is it better to use the median salary than an average salary? ›

Using the median approach eliminates the skewing that can happen due to the extreme salaries in the data. The median salary in the example above is $19,000, which is more in line with what the majority earns.

Why do wage rates differ? ›

Areas with more skilled workers will tend to have higher mean wages. Though, average wages may differ among different areas because they offer different levels of amenities. It is usually believed in economics that wages in areas where the level of amenity is high comparatively to other areas will be lower.

Is 60000 dollars a good salary in New Zealand? ›

If you're considering moving to Wellington, you may have wondered how much money you'll need to live comfortably in New Zealand's capital city. Some people can get by on $60,000 per year, while others may need $150,000 or more to live comfortably and service a mortgage.

What is 100k salary after taxes NZ? ›

If you make $100,000 a year living in New Zealand, you will be taxed $25,310. That means that your net pay will be $74,690 per year, or $6,224 per month. Your average tax rate is 25.3% and your marginal tax rate is 34.4%. This marginal tax rate means that your immediate additional income will be taxed at this rate.

What's the average salary in New Zealand in US dollars? ›

A Comparative Table of Average Salaries (in USD)
CountryAverage SalaryCost of Living Index*
New Zealand$38,34273.62
Australia$52,06376.21
United States$53,49071.05
Canada$44,36667.62
2 more rows

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