Salary ranges by occupation in New Zealand, based on Stats NZ, Careers New Zealand, IRD data, and industry salary surveys for 2025–26. Ranges reflect typical gross annual pay for experienced workers in each role.
Quick answer
NZ salary ranges vary widely by occupation. Healthcare specialists ($150k–$300k+), senior tech ($100k–$180k), and senior management ($90k–$160k+) are at the top. Trades ($65k–$95k), nurses ($65k–$90k), and teachers ($55k–$85k) sit in the middle. Retail, hospitality, and entry-level service roles ($46k–$60k) are at the lower end. All figures are gross annual.
Healthcare & Medical
| Occupation | Typical Salary Range (NZ) | Notes |
|---|
| General practitioner (GP) | $180,000–$280,000 | RNZCGP, includes P4P |
| Hospital specialist | $200,000–$400,000+ | Varies by specialty |
| Registrar (specialist training) | $100,000–$150,000 | DHB scale |
| Registered nurse | $65,000–$90,000 | Nursing Council NZ |
| Nurse practitioner | $95,000–$135,000 | |
| Midwife | $65,000–$95,000 | |
| Pharmacist | $75,000–$110,000 | |
| Physiotherapist | $65,000–$95,000 | |
| Occupational therapist | $60,000–$85,000 | |
| Paramedic | $60,000–$80,000 | St John / Hato Hōhonu |
| Dentist | $100,000–$200,000 | |
| Radiographer | $65,000–$90,000 | |
| Medical laboratory scientist | $60,000–$85,000 | |
| Mental health social worker | $55,000–$80,000 | |
Technology & Digital
| Occupation | Typical Salary Range (NZ) | Notes |
|---|
| Senior software engineer | $100,000–$160,000 | 5+ yrs experience |
| Mid-level developer | $75,000–$110,000 | 2–5 yrs |
| Junior developer | $55,000–$75,000 | Grad/entry level |
| Data scientist | $90,000–$140,000 | |
| Data engineer | $85,000–$130,000 | |
| DevOps / platform engineer | $95,000–$145,000 | |
| Cybersecurity analyst | $85,000–$130,000 | |
| IT project manager | $90,000–$140,000 | |
| UX/UI designer | $70,000–$110,000 | |
| Business analyst (tech) | $80,000–$120,000 | |
| Network engineer | $75,000–$115,000 | |
| Cloud architect | $110,000–$170,000 | |
| CTO / Head of Engineering | $150,000–$250,000+ | |
Engineering & Construction
| Occupation | Typical Salary Range (NZ) | Notes |
|---|
| Civil engineer | $75,000–$130,000 | IPENZ |
| Structural engineer | $80,000–$140,000 | |
| Mechanical engineer | $75,000–$125,000 | |
| Electrical engineer | $80,000–$130,000 | |
| Project manager (construction) | $90,000–$150,000 | |
| Quantity surveyor | $75,000–$130,000 | |
| Building surveyor | $70,000–$110,000 | |
| Site manager | $80,000–$120,000 | |
| Drafter / CAD technician | $60,000–$90,000 | |
| Geotechnical engineer | $80,000–$130,000 | |
Trades & Technical
| Occupation | Typical Salary Range (NZ) | Notes |
|---|
| Electrician (licensed) | $65,000–$100,000 | EWRB registered |
| Plumber (registered) | $65,000–$95,000 | |
| Gasfitter | $70,000–$100,000 | |
| Carpenter | $58,000–$85,000 | |
| Builder (site foreman) | $70,000–$105,000 | |
| Roofing tradesperson | $58,000–$82,000 | |
| HVAC technician | $65,000–$90,000 | |
| Heavy truck driver | $55,000–$80,000 | |
| Machine operator | $52,000–$75,000 | |
| Automotive mechanic | $55,000–$80,000 | |
| Aircraft engineer (LAME) | $90,000–$140,000 | |
| Marine engineer | $70,000–$110,000 | |
Finance, Accounting & Law
| Occupation | Typical Salary Range (NZ) | Notes |
|---|
| Accountant (CA / CPA) | $70,000–$130,000 | |
| Financial analyst | $75,000–$120,000 | |
| CFO | $150,000–$300,000+ | |
| Mortgage broker | $60,000–$120,000+ | Base + commission |
| Financial adviser (AFA) | $70,000–$150,000+ | |
| Lawyer (solicitor) | $70,000–$150,000 | NZLS |
| Barrister | $90,000–$300,000+ | Highly variable |
| Actuary | $100,000–$200,000+ | |
| Insurance broker | $60,000–$110,000 | |
| Economist | $80,000–$140,000 | |
| Payroll specialist | $65,000–$90,000 | |
| Credit analyst | $65,000–$100,000 | |
Education
| Occupation | Typical Salary Range (NZ) | Notes |
|---|
| Primary school teacher | $55,000–$90,000 | Ministry of Education scale |
| Secondary school teacher | $58,000–$95,000 | |
| Principal (primary) | $80,000–$140,000 | |
| Principal (secondary) | $95,000–$170,000 | |
| Early childhood teacher (ECT) | $46,000–$70,000 | |
| ESOL teacher | $55,000–$85,000 | |
| University lecturer | $80,000–$120,000 | |
| Associate professor | $110,000–$150,000 | |
| Professor | $140,000–$200,000+ | |
| Learning support teacher | $58,000–$90,000 | |
Government & Public Service
| Occupation | Typical Salary Range (NZ) | Notes |
|---|
| Policy analyst | $70,000–$110,000 | |
| Senior policy analyst | $90,000–$130,000 | |
| Policy manager | $110,000–$160,000 | |
| Police officer | $60,000–$100,000 | NZ Police |
| Senior sergeant / inspector | $90,000–$130,000 | |
| Corrections officer | $58,000–$80,000 | |
| Fire fighter | $60,000–$90,000 | FENZ |
| Immigration officer | $58,000–$85,000 | |
| IRD case officer | $55,000–$80,000 | |
| WINZ case manager | $52,000–$75,000 | |
| Local government officer | $60,000–$95,000 | |
| Resource consent planner | $65,000–$110,000 | |
Marketing, HR & Business
| Occupation | Typical Salary Range (NZ) | Notes |
|---|
| Marketing manager | $80,000–$130,000 | |
| Digital marketing manager | $75,000–$120,000 | |
| Brand manager | $70,000–$110,000 | |
| HR manager | $80,000–$130,000 | |
| Recruitment consultant | $55,000–$95,000 | Base; commission on top |
| Operations manager | $85,000–$140,000 | |
| General manager | $120,000–$200,000+ | |
| Sales manager | $80,000–$140,000 | Base + commissions |
| Supply chain manager | $85,000–$130,000 | |
| Procurement specialist | $75,000–$115,000 | |
| Real estate agent | $50,000–$150,000+ | Highly commission-dependent |
| Property manager | $55,000–$80,000 | |
Agriculture & Primary Industries
| Occupation | Typical Salary Range (NZ) | Notes |
|---|
| Farm manager (dairy) | $65,000–$95,000 + housing | |
| Sharemilker (50:50) | $80,000–$150,000+ | Profit-share; variable |
| Farm worker | $46,000–$65,000 | Often includes accommodation |
| Vet (small animal) | $75,000–$130,000 | |
| Vet (large animal) | $75,000–$120,000 | |
| Viticulture / winemaker | $55,000–$100,000 | |
| Horticulture manager | $60,000–$95,000 | |
| Forestry (senior) | $70,000–$100,000 | |
| Commercial fisher | $50,000–$90,000 | Variable; quota/share |
Hospitality & Retail
| Occupation | Typical Salary Range (NZ) | Notes |
|---|
| Chef (head chef) | $60,000–$95,000 | |
| Sous chef | $52,000–$75,000 | |
| Café / restaurant manager | $55,000–$80,000 | |
| Retail store manager | $55,000–$80,000 | |
| Retail team leader | $46,000–$60,000 | |
| Customer service rep | $46,000–$58,000 | |
| Hotel manager | $65,000–$110,000 | |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the highest-paid job in New Zealand?
Healthcare specialists (surgeons, cardiologists, anaesthetists) and senior executives typically earn the most. Hospital specialists can earn $200,000–$400,000+. Cloud architects, senior DevOps engineers, and experienced lawyers/accountants in the $150,000–$250,000 range are also among the highest-paid.
What trade earns the most in NZ?
Licensed electricians, plumbers, and gasfitters typically out-earn other trades, especially with experience or through self-employment. Senior electricians in commercial projects can earn $90,000–$110,000. Aircraft engineers (LAMEs) are among the highest-paid technical trades at $90,000–$140,000.
What is the starting salary for a nurse in NZ in 2026?
A newly registered nurse (RN) in NZ starts at approximately $60,000–$65,000 on the nursing pay scale. Pay increases with experience: nurses with 5+ years can earn $75,000–$85,000. Nurse practitioners (NPs) earn $95,000–$135,000. Exact rates are set by the NZNO collective agreement (for DHB/Te Whatu Ora employed nurses).
Are NZ salaries comparable to Australia?
Australian salaries are generally 15–20% higher than NZ in nominal terms, and the gap can be larger in healthcare, engineering, and mining. However, New Zealand has lower income taxes than many Australian states and a lower cost of living outside major cities. Many skilled NZ workers move to Australia; NZ employers often need to compete with trans-Tasman salary comparisons.
How accurate is this salary data?
These ranges represent typical pay for experienced workers in 2025–26 based on publicly available data (Stats NZ, Careers New Zealand, IRD, industry surveys). Actual pay varies by employer, location (Auckland tends to be 10–15% above regional), years of experience, and negotiation. Use these as benchmarks for understanding where your role sits, then research specific employers and roles through seek.co.nz, trademe.co.nz/jobs, or industry bodies.