Salaries in New Zealand by profession: evidence, experience and a budget example
Compare the particular occupation and experience level rather than a national average. The four examples below identify the source and its limitations. All amounts are gross NZD per year; national earnings data is not an occupation pay scale.
Contents
Are the pay ranges a salary promise to every worker?
No. The sources use different methods and have limitations. Check experience, hours, registration, period and the particular role; gross pay is different from income after deductions.
What the ranges mean
An employer scale, an official occupation estimate and a job advertisement are different measures. Check duties, hours, location, experience, registration and included allowances.
Tahatū’s developer and electrician estimates combine experience levels. The public pages do not supply a separate seniority scale or the underlying pay-data year. These are published guides checked on 15 October, not newly measured 2026 salaries.
Source: Tahatū: how pay estimates are produced (checked 2026-10-15).
Professional requirements
Health New Zealand lists registered-nurse steps from graduate RN1 to RN7 with six or more years of experience. These are base salaries before all penal rates, allowances and overtime.
The Ministry’s secondary-school teacher scale effective 28 January 2026 depends on qualification group and recognised service. The top step is not available to every qualification group. Electrical and nursing work require the relevant registration.
Source: Health New Zealand: registered nurse pay and experience steps (checked 2026-10-15); Ministry of Education: secondary teacher scale effective 28 January 2026 (checked 2026-10-15).
Tax and deductions
Income tax is progressive: each part of the income has its own rate. ACC earners’ levy is a separate deduction from salary income.
The example assumes one employee working 40 hours a week with NZ$80,000 annual salary, no student loan or employee KiwiSaver deductions, and no other income or tax credits. It is a defined example rather than an employer offer.
Source: Tax rates for individuals (checked 2026-10-15); IRD: ACC earners’ levy rates for 2026/27 (checked 2026-10-15).
Compare income with housing
The example uses one adult in Auckland, rent of NZ$600 a week, groceries of NZ$100 a week, monthly transport of NZ$200, phone and utilities of NZ$250, health costs of NZ$100 and personal spending of NZ$150. These are assumed inputs rather than measured city averages.
Setup costs and refundable bonds are outside the recurring month. Recalculate deductions for KiwiSaver, student loans or other income. An affordable salary does not by itself grant a visa.
| Occupation | Experience | Region | Gross pay | Source | Period and check | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software developer: create and maintain software | Mixed experience; no seniority breakdown | New Zealand | NZ$90,000–154,000 per year, common range | Tahatū: software developer; Tahatū: how pay estimates are produced | Underlying pay period unspecified; checked 15 October 2026 | Tahatū estimate, not an offer or an immigration pay scale |
| Registered nurse, Health NZ | Graduate RN1 to RN7: 6+ years | Health NZ system | NZ$77,667–109,407 annual base salary | Health New Zealand: registered nurse pay and experience steps | Page supplies no effective date; published guidance checked 15 October 2026 | Registration required; overtime and penal rates separate |
| Electrician: install, test and repair systems | Mixed experience; no seniority breakdown | New Zealand | NZ$66,000–107,000 per year, common range | Tahatū: electrician; Tahatū: how pay estimates are produced | Underlying pay period unspecified; checked 15 October 2026 | Tahatū estimate; registration required; not apprentice pay |
| Secondary-school trained teacher | Steps 1–10, subject to qualification group and service | State and state-integrated schools under the agreement | NZ$62,862–105,686 annual base salary | Ministry of Education: secondary teacher scale effective 28 January 2026 | Effective 28 January 2026; checked 15 October 2026 | Agreement applicability and qualification limits; allowances separate |
| Calculation | Defined NZD example |
|---|---|
| Gross annual salary | 80,000.00 |
| Annual income tax | 16,277.50 |
| ACC: 1.75% in 2026/27 | 1,400.00 |
| Average month after tax and ACC | 5,193.54 |
| Assumed monthly budget | 3,733.33 |
| Balance before setup costs | 1,460.21 |
Tax rates for individuals; IRD: ACC earners’ levy rates for 2026/27
Related reading
- Work in New Zealand: where to find jobs and how to apply
- Cost of living in New Zealand: rent, groceries, transport and first-month budget
- CV for New Zealand: prepare an application for the role
FAQ
Are the pay ranges a salary promise to every worker?
No. The sources use different methods and have limitations. Check experience, hours, registration, period and the particular role; gross pay is different from income after deductions.
Sources for independent verification
A check date is shown beside sources reviewed for this update.
- Tahatū: software developer. Checked:
- Tahatū: electrician. Checked:
- Tahatū: how pay estimates are produced. Checked:
- Health New Zealand: registered nurse pay and experience steps. Checked:
- Ministry of Education: secondary teacher scale effective 28 January 2026. Checked:
- Tax rates for individuals. Checked:
- IRD: ACC earners’ levy rates for 2026/27. Checked: