Salaries and wages
The amount of pay you receive usually depends on your employment agreement, your experience and qualifications and your employer’s employment policies. There can also be differences in average earnings [PDF 87Kb] depending on where you live.
Rates of pay
The TradeMe website has compiled information about salaries and wages for each industry area. This information is derived from their job advertisements.
Careers New Zealand have complied a summary of highest and lowest paid jobs and industries in New Zealand.
Minimum wages
If you are earning wages, there are different levels of minimum pay:
- No Minimum Wage – this applies to children under 16 who choose to work outside school hours. All other Employment Rights apply.
- New Entrants – these are employees aged 16 and 17 except for those who have completed 200 hours or three months of employment, whichever is shorter, or those who are supervising or training other workers. In both these circumstances, the Adult Minimum Wage applies.
- The Training Minimum Wage - applies to those who are doing recognised industry training involving at least 60 credits a year.
- The Adult Minimum Wage - applies to all employees aged 16 and over who are not new entrants or trainees
Deductions from your pay
If you are an employee, your personal tax and your ACC levy contribution will be automatically deducted from your salary or wages.
Paying tax
As a New Zealand resident you will be required to pay tax on all the income you receive, whether this is generated in New Zealand or overseas. Refer to Inland revenue's International page for more information about the tax status of new migrants.
Before starting a job, you will need to apply to Inland Revenue for an IRD number. Find out more at www.ird.govt.nz.
ACC levy
Accidental injuries are covered by the Government’s accident insurance scheme, which is managed by the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC). A levy to help pay for this will come out of your salary or wages. Find out more at www.acc.govt.nz.
