Pay ranges by occupation in New Zealand, mainly the most common yearly pay range for each job on Tahatū Career Navigator, the government careers service. Figures are before tax. Most are yearly pay; a few roles are shown as hourly rates.
Quick answer
NZ salary ranges vary widely by occupation. Medical specialists such as surgeons and anaesthetists (most common range $206k–$247k on Tahatū Career Navigator), senior tech and senior management are at the top. Trades, nurses (registered nurses: most common range $83k–$99k on Tahatū Career Navigator) and teachers sit in the middle. Retail, hospitality, and entry-level service roles are at the lower end. All figures are gross annual.
Healthcare & Medical
| Occupation |
Typical Salary Range (NZ) |
Notes |
| General practitioner (GP) |
$130,000–$258,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range |
| Surgeon or anaesthetist |
$206,000–$247,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range |
| Registrar (specialist training) |
$100,000–$150,000 |
Health NZ scale |
| Registered nurse |
$83,000–$99,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range |
| Nurse practitioner |
$144,000–$151,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range |
| Midwife |
$89,000–$102,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range |
| Pharmacist |
$96,000–$133,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range |
| Physiotherapist |
$96,000–$133,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range |
| Occupational therapist |
$68,000–$83,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range |
| Paramedic |
$81,000–$114,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range |
| Dentist |
$206,000–$247,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range |
| Radiographer |
$84,000–$125,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator (listed as medical imaging technologist), most common range |
| Medical laboratory scientist |
$79,000–$119,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range |
| Social worker |
$87,000–$107,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range |
Technology & Digital
| Occupation |
Typical Salary Range (NZ) |
Notes |
| Software developer |
$90,000–$154,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range |
| Data scientist |
$83,000–$143,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range |
| Cybersecurity analyst |
$81,000–$157,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range |
| IT project manager |
$101,000–$179,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range |
| User experience designer |
$105,000–$125,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range |
| Business analyst |
$85,000–$110,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range |
Engineering & Construction
| Occupation |
Typical Salary Range (NZ) |
Notes |
| Civil engineer |
$81,000–$154,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range |
| Mechanical engineer |
$72,000–$125,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range |
| Electrical engineer |
$82,000–$150,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range |
| Construction manager |
$95,000–$155,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range |
| Quantity surveyor |
$75,000–$146,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range |
| Mechanical draughter |
$68,000–$108,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range |
Trades & Technical
| Occupation |
Typical Salary Range (NZ) |
Notes |
| Electrician (licensed) |
$66,000–$107,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range; EWRB registered |
| Plumber (registered) |
$56,000–$91,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range |
| Gasfitter |
$68,000–$103,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range |
| Carpenter |
$52,000–$84,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range |
| Roofing tradesperson |
$25–$40 an hour |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range |
| Heat pump, refrigeration and air conditioning technician |
$29–$48 an hour |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range |
| Heavy truck driver |
$69,000–$102,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range |
| Automotive technician |
$28–$41 an hour |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range |
| Aircraft maintenance engineer |
$83,000–$144,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range |
| Marine engineer |
$72,000–$148,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range |
Finance, Accounting & Law
| Occupation |
Typical Salary Range (NZ) |
Notes |
| Accountant and auditor |
$71,000–$131,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range |
| Finance analyst |
$73,000–$122,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range |
| Mortgage broker |
$64,000–$134,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range |
| Financial adviser (AFA) |
$72,000–$140,000 |
Tahatū, most common range |
| Lawyer (solicitor) |
$85,000–$215,000 |
Tahatū, most common range |
| Actuary |
$99,000–$244,000 |
Tahatū, most common range |
| Insurance broker (insurance adviser) |
$65,000–$118,000 |
Tahatū, most common range |
| Economist |
$81,000–$170,000 |
Tahatū, most common range |
| Payroll specialist (payroll consultant) |
$66,000–$98,000 |
Tahatū, most common range |
| Credit analyst |
$71,000–$107,000 |
Tahatū, most common range |
Education
| Occupation |
Typical Salary Range (NZ) |
Notes |
| Primary school teacher |
$72,000–$93,000 |
Tahatū, most common range |
| Secondary school teacher |
$72,000–$93,000 |
Tahatū, most common range |
| School principal (primary or secondary) |
$136,000–$172,000 |
Tahatū, most common range |
| Early childhood teacher (ECT) |
$72,000–$93,000 |
Tahatū, most common range |
| ESOL teacher |
$25–$42 an hour |
Tahatū, most common range; often paid hourly |
| University lecturer (tertiary lecturer) |
$106,000–$128,000 |
Tahatū, most common range |
| Learning support teacher (resource teacher) |
$72,000–$93,000 |
Tahatū, most common range |
Government & Public Service
| Occupation |
Typical Salary Range (NZ) |
Notes |
| Policy analyst |
$81,000–$136,000 |
Tahatū, most common range |
| Police officer |
$71,000–$84,000 |
Tahatū, most common range |
| Corrections officer |
$82,000–$110,000 |
Tahatū, most common range |
| Fire fighter |
$60,000–$71,000 |
Tahatū, most common range |
| Immigration officer |
$66,000–$84,000 |
Tahatū, most common range |
| Case manager (welfare) |
$68,000–$86,000 |
Tahatū, most common range |
| Local government officer (court, local government and licence officer) |
$62,000–$87,000 |
Tahatū, most common range |
| Resource consent planner |
$80,000–$145,000 |
Tahatū (planner), most common range |
Marketing, HR & Business
| Occupation |
Typical Salary Range (NZ) |
Notes |
| Marketing manager |
$80,000–$151,000 |
Tahatū, most common range |
| HR manager |
$95,000–$173,000 |
Tahatū, most common range |
| General manager |
$82,000–$169,000 |
Tahatū, most common range |
| Sales manager |
$77,000–$152,000 |
Tahatū, most common range; base + commissions |
| Supply chain manager |
$86,000–$164,000 |
Tahatū, most common range |
| Procurement specialist (purchasing agent) |
$59,000–$85,000 |
Tahatū, most common range |
| Real estate agent |
$66,000–$190,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range; wide spread |
| Property manager |
$64,000–$126,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range |
Agriculture & Primary Industries
| Occupation |
Typical Salary Range (NZ) |
Notes |
| Farm manager (dairy) |
$65,000–$103,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range |
| Sharemilker (50:50) |
$52,000–$124,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range; profit-share, variable |
| Farm worker |
$24–$39 an hour |
Tahatu lists this under farm assistant |
| Vet (small animal) |
$90,000–$153,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range |
| Vet (large animal) |
$90,000–$153,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range; same range as all veterinarians |
| Viticulture / winemaker |
Winemaker $73,000–$133,000; viticulturist $68,000–$112,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range |
| Horticulture manager |
$54,000–$104,000 |
Tahatu orchard farmer and manager |
| Forestry (senior) |
$81,000–$135,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range |
| Commercial fisher |
$57,000–$141,000 |
Tahatu fishing worker, includes skippers |
Hospitality & Retail
| Occupation |
Typical Salary Range (NZ) |
Notes |
| Chef |
$25–$37 an hour |
Tahatu range for chefs, includes sous and executive chefs |
| Café / restaurant manager |
$52,000–$83,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range |
| Retail store manager |
$26–$39 an hour |
Tahatu retail supervisor |
| Customer service rep |
$52,000–$77,000 |
Tahatū Career Navigator, most common range |
| Hotel manager |
$58,000–$103,000 |
Tahatu accommodation manager |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the highest-paid job in New Zealand?
Medical specialists are among the highest-paid occupations on this page. Tahatū lists consultant physicians (medical specialists) at a most common range of $120,000–$285,000 a year, with an upper figure of $404,000. For comparison, Tahatū lists most common ranges of $131,000–$208,000 for information technology architects, $85,000–$215,000 for lawyers and $71,000–$131,000 for accountants and auditors.
What trade earns the most in NZ?
Tahatū lists aircraft maintenance engineers at a most common range of $83,000–$144,000, above its ranges for electricians ($66,000–$107,000), plumbers ($56,000–$91,000) and gasfitters ($68,000–$103,000).
What is the starting salary for a nurse in NZ in 2026?
Tahatū lists registered nurse pay at $76,000 at the lower end and $83,000–$99,000 as the most common range. Nurse practitioners (NPs) most commonly earn $144,000–$151,000 on Tahatū. For NZNO members employed by Te Whatu Ora, the Te Whatu Ora/NZNO Collective Agreement applies.
Are NZ salaries comparable to Australia?
Pay comparisons with Australia depend on the occupation, tax and cost of living. The figures on this page are New Zealand pay only, so they are not a direct comparison.
How accurate is this salary data?
These ranges are the most common pay ranges shown for each occupation on Tahatū Career Navigator (tahatu.govt.nz), the government careers service. They are before tax, and a few roles are shown there as hourly rates. Actual pay varies by employer, location, 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.