Salary Calculator Results
Use the panel on the left to enter your gross salary, expand More Options to add extras, then click Calculate. The table below will show an estimate of your take-home pay in New Zealand, alongside a full tax breakdown.
Your Salary vs. NZ Wages
The following chart outlines your before-tax earnings relative to the national average salary and minimum wage in New Zealand.
Please note that the national figures assume full-time employment for the entire year, while your salary is calculated based on the settings you selected.
Average Salary in New Zealand
The average salary in New Zealand is $85,852 per year, according to the latest figures published by Stats NZ for the national average weekly earnings for full-time employees ($1,651). This equates to a take-home pay of around $5,517 per month.
To get a better idea of what most residents earn, we can also look at the median salary in New Zealand, which stands at $69,836 per year (50th percentile). This figure is quite a bit lower than the average, and translates to a monthly after-tax salary of $4,627.
Minimum Wage in New Zealand
The minimum wage in New Zealand in 2025 is $23.50 per hour, translating to an annual gross salary of $48,880, assuming full-time employment of 40 hours per week. Based on this figure, our tax calculator estimates a monthly take-home pay of roughly $3,427.
For early career workers, the government imposes the "starting-out" and "training" minimum wages, both set at $18.80 an hour. The former applies to young employees aged 16–19 with less than six months of continuous employment, while the latter is for individuals over 20 enrolled in an industry training program.
How Is Salary Calculated and Paid in New Zealand?
If you're a full-time employee in New Zealand, your employer will automatically deduct all taxes and contributions from your gross salary every month. This is called "tax at source", and it's a crucial part of New Zealand's pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) scheme.
However, if you're self-employed, you fall outside the PAYE system and must file an IR3 individual tax return annually to declare your income and claim allowable expenses. This is necessary for determining your exact tax obligations and potential refunds.
Taxes Included in This NZ PAYE Calculator
Tax Year: 2025 – 2026
- Income Tax: Pay in New Zealand is taxed at a progressive rate, starting at 10.5% for incomes under $15,600 and capping at 39% for incomes over $180,000.
- Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC): ACC levies are a form of insurance that entitles you to healthcare and rehabilitation if you're hurt outside of work.
- Independent Earner Tax Credit (IETC): The IETC provides up to $520 of tax credits for individuals who are New Zealand tax residents earning between $24,000 and $70,000.
- KiwiSaver: KiwiSaver is a savings scheme designed to help set you up for your retirement. Contributions are typically set at 3%, 4%, 6%, 8%, or 10% of your pre-tax income, with employers required to contribute a minimum of 3%.
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The information provided on this site is intended for informational purposes only.
Please consult a qualified specialist such as an accountant or tax advisor for any major financial decisions.