Health New Zealand has a range of collective agreements negotiated with health sector unions, so pay for many public roles follows agreed scales.
Quick answer
On Tahatū Career Navigator, the most common pay estimates are $83k–$99k for registered nurses, $130k–$258k for GPs and $206k–$247k for surgeons (before tax).
On Tahatū Career Navigator, the most common pay estimates are $83k–$99k for registered nurses, $130k–$258k for GPs and $206k–$247k for surgeons (before tax).
Healthcare Salary Ranges in NZ
Salary figures on this page are the most common range shown for each occupation on Tahatū Career Navigator (tahatu.govt.nz), a government careers site. They are estimates before tax, not pay scales.
| Role | Salary Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Health care assistant | $51,000–$55,000 | Tahatū most common range |
| Registered nurse | $83,000–$99,000 | Tahatū most common range; lower end $76,000 |
| Clinical nurse specialist | $91,000–$131,000 | Tahatū range; also called clinical nurse manager |
| Nurse practitioner | $144,000–$151,000 | Tahatū most common range; upper end $163,000 |
| Midwife | $89,000–$102,000 | Tahatū most common range; employed midwives have a MERAS collective agreement |
| Physiotherapist | $96,000–$133,000 | Tahatū most common range; lower end $77,000 |
| Pharmacist | $96,000–$133,000 | Tahatū most common range; lower end $77,000 |
| Occupational therapist | $68,000–$83,000 | Tahatū most common range |
| Medical imaging technologist (radiographer) | $84,000–$125,000 | Tahatū most common range; sonographers not listed separately |
| GP (general practitioner) | $130,000–$258,000 | Tahatū most common range; upper end $353,000 |
| Medical specialist (surgeon, anaesthetist and similar) | $206,000–$247,000 | Tahatū most common range; upper end $577,000 for surgeons |
How NZ Healthcare Pay Works
Health NZ Collective Agreements
Public hospital nurses are covered by Health NZ collective agreements, including the NZNO agreement and others such as the NSNZ and PSA nursing agreements. Pay scales in these agreements are negotiated by the union on members’ behalf.
Private Hospitals and Practices
Private hospitals and specialist practices set their own pay rates, which can differ from Health NZ rates.
Immigration Pathways
Key points for overseas-trained nurses and doctors:
- Skilled Migrant Visa: Healthcare roles are on the Green List (straight-to-residence for nurses and some allied health roles)
- Nursing Council of NZ: International nurses must register through NCNZ; processing time varies
- Medical Council of NZ: Overseas doctors must apply for registration; there are several pathways, and which one applies depends on the scope of practice and your qualifications and experience
Nursing Pay Ranges
| Role | Most common range (Tahatū Career Navigator) |
|---|---|
| Enrolled nurse | $73k–$81k |
| Registered nurse | $83k–$99k |
| Clinical nurse specialist (also called clinical nurse manager) | $91k–$131k |
| Nurse practitioner | $144k–$151k |
Negotiation Tips for Healthcare
- Roles covered by a Health NZ collective agreement follow pay scales negotiated by the union, and individual terms can be added on top