New Zealand’s highest-paying jobs

When it comes to salary conversations, knowledge is power.  We’ve compiled a list that shows which jobs in your industry currently have the highest salaries, so you can take this information to the negotiating table. 

Click on the table below – it shows a list of the highest-paying jobs advertised on SEEK across New Zealand.

See the trends
RANK INDUSTRY ROLE TYPE ANNUAL SALARY SALARY GROWTH
1 Accounting Chief Financial Officer $198,644 8%
2 Healthcare & Medical General Practitioner $191,060 5%
3 Information & Communication Technology Change Manager $167,345 6%
4 Construction Construction Manager $167,118 19%
5 Information & Communication Technology Solutions Architect $160,122 6%
6 Consulting & Strategy Change Manager $155,611 15%
7 Information & Communication Technology Delivery Lead $154,795 11%
8 Information & Communication Technology Consultant $152,737 5%
9 Accounting Financial Controller $152,365 4%
10 Information & Communication Technology Technical Lead $151,426 7%
11 Information & Communication Technology Security Consultant $148,442 12%
12 Legal Senior Associate $147,737 -3%
13 Healthcare & Medical Dentist $147,091 28%
14 Engineering Engineering Manager $145,545 6%
15 Information & Communication Technology Project Manager $143,600 4%
16 Human Resources & Recruitment Health and Safety Manager $137,827 9%
17 Information & Communication Technology Reliability Engineer $137,348 14%
18 Information & Communication Technology Product Manager $135,193 1%
19 Information & Communication Technology Data Engineer $134,154 6%
20 Legal Counsel $133,985 -1%

Source: SEEK, based on average annual full time and annualised hourly salaries (excluding contract roles) for job ads listed on SEEK from Jan 23-Mar 23 compared to Jan 22-Mar 22.

RANK INDUSTRY ROLE TYPE ANNUAL SALARY SALARY GROWTH
1 Accounting Chief Financial Officer $198,644 8%
2 Accounting Financial Controller $152,365 4%
3 Accounting Partner $129,595 11%
4 Accounting Finance Manager $127,781 2%
5 Accounting Financial Analyst $105,708 7%
6 Accounting Commercial Analyst $103,038 4%
7 Accounting Accountant $90,574 6%
8 Accounting Auditor $84,536 -6%
9 Accounting Payroll Specialist $77,803 -1%
10 Accounting Payroll Officer $76,873 15%
11 Accounting Financial Officer $74,594 21%
12 Accounting Bookkeeper $66,453 9%
13 Accounting Payroll Administrator $66,216 10%
14 Accounting Credit Controller $65,422 8%
15 Accounting Financial Administrator $64,698 7%
16 Accounting Accounts Payable Officer $63,388 9%
17 Accounting Accounts Assistant $61,783 7%
18 Accounting Accounts Administrator $61,619 7%
19 Accounting Accounts Payable Administrator $61,015 8%
20 Accounting Administration Officer $57,824 1%

Source: SEEK, based on average annual full time and annualised hourly salaries (excluding contract roles) for job ads listed on SEEK from Jan 22-Mar 22 compared to Jan 21-Mar 21.

RANK INDUSTRY ROLE TYPE ANNUAL SALARY SALARY GROWTH
1 Administration & Office Support Executive Assistant $78,701 6%
2 Administration & Office Support Administration Manager $74,544 10%
3 Administration & Office Support Project Coordinator $71,040 6%
4 Administration & Office Support Office Manager $70,500 8%
5 Administration & Office Support Secretary $68,790 1%
6 Administration & Office Support Personal Assistant $67,865 6%
7 Administration & Office Support Project Administrator $66,090 9%
8 Administration & Office Support Operations Coordinator $65,187 11%
9 Administration & Office Support Coordinator $62,155 5%
10 Administration & Office Support Contracts Administrator $61,815 5%
11 Administration & Office Support Registry Officer $61,624 5%
12 Administration & Office Support Administration Coordinator $60,648 12%
13 Administration & Office Support Support Coordinator $60,436 5%
14 Administration & Office Support Service Administrator $60,183 11%
15 Administration & Office Support Operations Administrator $59,960 10%
16 Administration & Office Support Accounts Administrator $59,714 7%
17 Administration & Office Support Sales Administrator $59,485 7%
18 Administration & Office Support Team Administrator $59,322 2%
19 Administration & Office Support Support Officer $58,740 12%
20 Administration & Office Support Support Administrator $58,090 4%

Source: SEEK, based on average annual full time and annualised hourly salaries (excluding contract roles) for job ads listed on SEEK from Jan 22-Mar 22 compared to Jan 21-Mar 21.

RANK INDUSTRY ROLE TYPE ANNUAL SALARY SALARY GROWTH
1 Advertising, Arts & Media Producer $81,170 6%
2 Advertising, Arts & Media Account Manager $77,574 1%
3 Advertising, Arts & Media Journalist $74,800 16%

Source: SEEK, based on average annual full time and annualised hourly salaries (excluding contract roles) for job ads listed on SEEK from Jan 22-Mar 22 compared to Jan 21-Mar 21.

RANK INDUSTRY ROLE TYPE ANNUAL SALARY SALARY GROWTH
1 Banking & Financial Services Relationship Manager $129,285 24%
2 Banking & Financial Services Analyst $100,718 13%
3 Banking & Financial Services Banker $67,726 -11%
4 Banking & Financial Services Customer Service Representative $56,114 -1%

Source: SEEK, based on average annual full time and annualised hourly salaries (excluding contract roles) for job ads listed on SEEK from Jan 22-Mar 22 compared to Jan 21-Mar 21.

RANK INDUSTRY ROLE TYPE ANNUAL SALARY SALARY GROWTH
1 Call Centre & Customer Service Support Specialist $57,610 6%
2 Call Centre & Customer Service Support Officer $56,402 10%
3 Call Centre & Customer Service Customer Experience Consultant $54,968 8%
4 Call Centre & Customer Service Centre Operator $54,259 15%
5 Call Centre & Customer Service Customer Service Representative $53,560 6%
6 Call Centre & Customer Service Care Consultant $52,502 5%
7 Call Centre & Customer Service Collections Specialist $51,567 15%

Source: SEEK, based on average annual full time and annualised hourly salaries (excluding contract roles) for job ads listed on SEEK from Jan 22-Mar 22 compared to Jan 21-Mar 21.

RANK INDUSTRY ROLE TYPE ANNUAL SALARY SALARY GROWTH
1 Community Services & Development Adviser $106,457 11%
2 Community Services & Development Service Manager $81,224 -1%
3 Community Services & Development Social Worker $76,599 9%
4 Community Services & Development Team Leader $74,621 -4%
5 Community Services & Development Coordinator $62,304 0%
6 Community Services & Development Advocate $61,064 1%
7 Community Services & Development Facilitator $60,524 5%
8 Community Services & Development Coach $59,996 7%
9 Community Services & Development Navigator $58,820 1%
10 Community Services & Development Youth Worker $53,393 2%
11 Community Services & Development Support Worker $51,248 1%
12 Community Services & Development Lifestyle Coordinator $50,000 9%
13 Community Services & Development Caregiver $47,609 3%

Source: SEEK, based on average annual full time and annualised hourly salaries (excluding contract roles) for job ads listed on SEEK from Jan 22-Mar 22 compared to Jan 21-Mar 21.

RANK INDUSTRY ROLE TYPE ANNUAL SALARY SALARY GROWTH
1 Construction Construction Manager $167,118 19%
2 Construction Project Manager $125,176 3%
3 Construction Site Manager $122,664 7%
4 Construction Quantity Surveyor $117,762 7%
5 Construction Operations Manager $116,592 3%
6 Construction Contracts Manager $113,846 -2%
7 Construction Estimator $106,752 8%
8 Construction Surveyor $104,907 -1%
9 Construction Site Supervisor $103,227 4%
10 Construction Health and Safety Adviser $102,578 4%
11 Construction Planner $93,598 -4%
12 Construction Supervisor $92,473 6%
13 Construction Foreperson $76,645 1%
14 Construction Leading Hand $67,045 7%
15 Construction Excavator Operator $62,276 2%
16 Construction Operator $60,302 11%
17 Construction Machine Operator $60,117 3%
18 Construction Site Traffic Management Supervisor $59,499 5%
19 Construction Truck Driver $58,781 6%
20 Construction Labourer $53,054 8%

Source: SEEK, based on average annual full time and annualised hourly salaries (excluding contract roles) for job ads listed on SEEK from Jan 22-Mar 22 compared to Jan 21-Mar 21.

RANK INDUSTRY ROLE TYPE ANNUAL SALARY SALARY GROWTH
1 Consulting & Strategy Change Manager $155,611 15%
2 Consulting & Strategy Adviser $123,676 8%
3 Consulting & Strategy Planner $99,416 -2%

Source: SEEK, based on average annual full time and annualised hourly salaries (excluding contract roles) for job ads listed on SEEK from Jan 22-Mar 22 compared to Jan 21-Mar 21.

RANK INDUSTRY ROLE TYPE ANNUAL SALARY SALARY GROWTH
1 Design & Architecture Planner $98,051 2%
2 Design & Architecture Architectural Technician $89,434 8%
3 Design & Architecture Designer $85,031 0%
4 Design & Architecture Graduate of Architecture $76,166 2%

Source: SEEK, based on average annual full time and annualised hourly salaries (excluding contract roles) for job ads listed on SEEK from Jan 22-Mar 22 compared to Jan 21-Mar 21.

RANK INDUSTRY ROLE TYPE ANNUAL SALARY SALARY GROWTH
1 Education & Training Manager $118,821 19%
2 Education & Training Designer $90,134 9%
3 Education & Training Lecturer $89,190 -1%
4 Education & Training Adviser $87,487 -2%
5 Education & Training Facilitator $80,837 20%
6 Education & Training Centre Manager $79,008 6%
7 Education & Training Trainer $78,779 3%
8 Education & Training Teacher $69,174 6%
9 Education & Training Kaiako $68,962 19%
10 Education & Training Tutor $68,866 5%
11 Education & Training Librarian $68,575 16%
12 Education & Training Educator $65,387 9%
13 Education & Training Early Childhood Teacher $61,289 7%
14 Education & Training Reliever $58,925 10%
15 Education & Training Teachers Aide $53,223 8%

Source: SEEK, based on average annual full time and annualised hourly salaries (excluding contract roles) for job ads listed on SEEK from Jan 22-Mar 22 compared to Jan 21-Mar 21.

RANK INDUSTRY ROLE TYPE ANNUAL SALARY SALARY GROWTH
1 Engineering Engineering Manager $145,545 6%
2 Engineering Project Manager $124,740 7%
3 Engineering Structural Engineer $109,584 6%
4 Engineering Project Engineer $108,915 1%
5 Engineering Systems Engineer $105,160 2%
6 Engineering Geotechnical Engineer $104,677 1%
7 Engineering Electrical Engineer $103,918 9%
8 Engineering Automation Engineer $103,217 1%
9 Engineering Process Engineer $102,140 -2%
10 Engineering Civil Engineer $101,477 -4%
11 Engineering Mechanical Engineer $100,987 3%
12 Engineering Geologist $100,489 14%
13 Engineering Planner $100,111 3%
14 Engineering Engineer $100,046 2%
15 Engineering Designer $98,571 7%
16 Engineering Design Engineer $97,782 3%
17 Engineering Development Engineer $95,954 12%
18 Engineering Site Engineer $90,404 -2%
19 Engineering Maintenance Engineer $84,543 4%
20 Engineering Draftsperson $80,807 8%

Source: SEEK, based on average annual full time and annualised hourly salaries (excluding contract roles) for job ads listed on SEEK from Jan 22-Mar 22 compared to Jan 21-Mar 21.

RANK INDUSTRY ROLE TYPE ANNUAL SALARY SALARY GROWTH
1 Farming, Animals & Conservation Veterinarian $104,539 3%
2 Farming, Animals & Conservation Ranger $63,777 7%
3 Farming, Animals & Conservation Nurse $54,909 7%

Source: SEEK, based on average annual full time and annualised hourly salaries (excluding contract roles) for job ads listed on SEEK from Jan 22-Mar 22 compared to Jan 21-Mar 21.

RANK INDUSTRY ROLE TYPE ANNUAL SALARY SALARY GROWTH
1 Government & Defence Project Manager $121,707 -3%
2 Government & Defence Analyst $113,866 9%
3 Government & Defence Team Leader $110,735 4%
4 Government & Defence Adviser $110,435 3%
5 Government & Defence Policy Adviser $107,886 3%
6 Government & Defence Policy Analyst $105,264 1%
7 Government & Defence Investigator $100,897 10%
8 Government & Defence Planner $92,298 3%
9 Government & Defence Compliance Officer $81,302 16%

Source: SEEK, based on average annual full time and annualised hourly salaries (excluding contract roles) for job ads listed on SEEK from Jan 22-Mar 22 compared to Jan 21-Mar 21.

RANK INDUSTRY ROLE TYPE ANNUAL SALARY SALARY GROWTH
1 Healthcare & Medical General Practitioner $191,060 5%
2 Healthcare & Medical Dentist $147,091 28%
3 Healthcare & Medical Nurse Practitioner $128,093 5%
4 Healthcare & Medical Service Manager $101,665 9%
5 Healthcare & Medical Nurse Manager $100,086 4%
6 Healthcare & Medical Psychologist $98,782 0%
7 Healthcare & Medical Technologist $95,075 8%
8 Healthcare & Medical Pharmacist $91,371 14%
9 Healthcare & Medical Clinical Manager $91,144 -5%
10 Healthcare & Medical Educator $88,573 5%
11 Healthcare & Medical Team Leader $84,133 -4%
12 Healthcare & Medical Physiotherapist $83,446 11%
13 Healthcare & Medical Practice Manager $80,610 5%
14 Healthcare & Medical Midwife $80,371 -2%
15 Healthcare & Medical Health Improvement Practitioner $80,350 0%
16 Healthcare & Medical Occupational Therapist $79,495 6%
17 Healthcare & Medical Nurse $78,600 6%
18 Healthcare & Medical Therapist $78,096 3%
19 Healthcare & Medical Clinician $77,187 2%
20 Healthcare & Medical Registered Nurse $76,593 9%

Source: SEEK, based on average annual full time and annualised hourly salaries (excluding contract roles) for job ads listed on SEEK from Jan 22-Mar 22 compared to Jan 21-Mar 21.

RANK INDUSTRY ROLE TYPE ANNUAL SALARY SALARY GROWTH
1 Hospitality & Tourism Operations Manager $84,388 9%
2 Hospitality & Tourism Travel Consultant $67,895 28%
3 Hospitality & Tourism Restaurant Manager $61,574 9%
4 Hospitality & Tourism Chef $60,694 7%
5 Hospitality & Tourism Bar Manager $60,328 6%
6 Hospitality & Tourism Assistant Manager $58,384 13%
7 Hospitality & Tourism Night Manager $56,233 10%
8 Hospitality & Tourism Chef de Partie $56,195 9%
9 Hospitality & Tourism Duty Manager $55,930 11%
10 Hospitality & Tourism Cook $55,796 12%
11 Hospitality & Tourism Food and Beverage Supervisor $54,321 9%
12 Hospitality & Tourism Bartender $53,427 10%
13 Hospitality & Tourism Customer Service Representative $52,060 16%
14 Hospitality & Tourism Waitperson $51,749 9%
15 Hospitality & Tourism Host $51,672 8%
16 Hospitality & Tourism Auditor $51,569 11%
17 Hospitality & Tourism Housekeeper $50,773 8%
18 Hospitality & Tourism Receptionist $50,129 9%
19 Hospitality & Tourism Kitchen Assistant $49,513 10%
20 Hospitality & Tourism Barista $49,366 5%

Source: SEEK, based on average annual full time and annualised hourly salaries (excluding contract roles) for job ads listed on SEEK from Jan 22-Mar 22 compared to Jan 21-Mar 21.

RANK INDUSTRY ROLE TYPE ANNUAL SALARY SALARY GROWTH
1 Human Resources & Recruitment Health and Safety Manager $137,827 9%
2 Human Resources & Recruitment Human Resources Business Partner $121,519 6%
3 Human Resources & Recruitment Adviser $116,690 13%
4 Human Resources & Recruitment Partner $115,132 8%
5 Human Resources & Recruitment Human Resources Manager $113,514 1%
6 Human Resources & Recruitment People and Culture Adviser $95,167 7%
7 Human Resources & Recruitment Health and Safety Adviser $93,733 0%
8 Human Resources & Recruitment Human Resources Adviser $91,884 4%
9 Human Resources & Recruitment Recruitment Adviser $84,300 2%
10 Human Resources & Recruitment Recruitment Consultant $79,891 5%
11 Human Resources & Recruitment Human Resources Coordinator $65,551 -2%
12 Human Resources & Recruitment Recruitment Coordinator $62,617 2%
13 Human Resources & Recruitment Human Resources Administrator $58,398 -3%

Source: SEEK, based on average annual full time and annualised hourly salaries (excluding contract roles) for job ads listed on SEEK from Jan 22-Mar 22 compared to Jan 21-Mar 21.

RANK INDUSTRY ROLE TYPE ANNUAL SALARY SALARY GROWTH
1 Information & Communication Technology Change Manager $167,345 6%
2 Information & Communication Technology Solutions Architect $160,122 6%
3 Information & Communication Technology Delivery Lead $154,795 11%
4 Information & Communication Technology Consultant $152,737 5%
5 Information & Communication Technology Technical Lead $151,426 7%
6 Information & Communication Technology Security Consultant $148,442 12%
7 Information & Communication Technology Project Manager $143,600 4%
8 Information & Communication Technology Reliability Engineer $137,348 14%
9 Information & Communication Technology Product Manager $135,193 1%
10 Information & Communication Technology Data Engineer $134,154 6%
11 Information & Communication Technology Scrum Master $133,132 -4%
12 Information & Communication Technology Delivery Manager $131,218 2%
13 Information & Communication Technology Business Analyst $131,138 2%
14 Information & Communication Technology Platform Engineer $130,598 7%
15 Information & Communication Technology Mobile Developer $129,363 6%
16 Information & Communication Technology Product Owner $127,990 -1%
17 Information & Communication Technology DevOps Engineer $127,352 3%
18 Information & Communication Technology Cloud Engineer $126,458 -1%
19 Information & Communication Technology Security Analyst $125,218 21%
20 Information & Communication Technology Automation Engineer $124,352 5%

Source: SEEK, based on average annual full time and annualised hourly salaries (excluding contract roles) for job ads listed on SEEK from Jan 22-Mar 22 compared to Jan 21-Mar 21.

RANK INDUSTRY ROLE TYPE ANNUAL SALARY SALARY GROWTH
1 Insurance & Superannuation Assessor $88,113 13%
2 Insurance & Superannuation Broker $77,372 14%
3 Insurance & Superannuation Claims Consultant $64,868 7%

Source: SEEK, based on average annual full time and annualised hourly salaries (excluding contract roles) for job ads listed on SEEK from Jan 22-Mar 22 compared to Jan 21-Mar 21.

RANK INDUSTRY ROLE TYPE ANNUAL SALARY SALARY GROWTH
1 Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics Operations Manager $114,770 4%
2 Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics Branch Manager $101,911 1%
3 Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics Procurement Specialist $100,559 2%
4 Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics Production Manager $99,567 2%
5 Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics Contractor $91,802 8%
6 Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics Planner $84,527 8%
7 Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics Warehouse Manager $82,631 9%
8 Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics Production Supervisor $77,942 4%
9 Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics Operations Supervisor $75,087 -4%
10 Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics Supervisor $71,530 0%
11 Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics Warehouse Supervisor $69,655 0%
12 Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics Team Leader $65,385 0%
13 Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics Purchasing Officer $64,972 4%
14 Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics Crane Operator $64,334 4%
15 Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics Logistics Coordinator $63,920 4%
16 Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics Inventory Controller $63,871 13%
17 Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics Dispatcher $63,587 -2%
18 Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics Coordinator $62,435 0%
19 Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics Courier $60,060 28%
20 Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics Plant Operator $59,163 10%

Source: SEEK, based on average annual full time and annualised hourly salaries (excluding contract roles) for job ads listed on SEEK from Jan 22-Mar 22 compared to Jan 21-Mar 21.

RANK INDUSTRY ROLE TYPE ANNUAL SALARY SALARY GROWTH
1 Marketing & Communications Product Manager $123,626 14%
2 Marketing & Communications Communications Manager $113,932 -4%
3 Marketing & Communications Marketing Manager $107,433 0%
4 Marketing & Communications Adviser $106,417 1%
5 Marketing & Communications Communications Adviser $100,894 7%
6 Marketing & Communications Communications Specialist $97,106 4%
7 Marketing & Communications Brand Manager $91,660 -1%
8 Marketing & Communications Marketing Specialist $84,829 7%
9 Marketing & Communications Marketing Executive $72,645 3%
10 Marketing & Communications Marketing Coordinator $62,683 -1%
11 Marketing & Communications Marketing Assistant $55,269 2%

Source: SEEK, based on average annual full time and annualised hourly salaries (excluding contract roles) for job ads listed on SEEK from Jan 22-Mar 22 compared to Jan 21-Mar 21.

RANK INDUSTRY ROLE TYPE ANNUAL SALARY SALARY GROWTH
1 Mining, Resources & Energy Mechanic $93,235 23%

Source: SEEK, based on average annual full time and annualised hourly salaries (excluding contract roles) for job ads listed on SEEK from Jan 22-Mar 22 compared to Jan 21-Mar 21.

RANK INDUSTRY ROLE TYPE ANNUAL SALARY SALARY GROWTH
1 Real Estate & Property Salesperson $106,158 19%
2 Real Estate & Property Facilities Manager $99,513 4%
3 Real Estate & Property Property Manager $75,690 5%

Source: SEEK, based on average annual full time and annualised hourly salaries (excluding contract roles) for job ads listed on SEEK from Jan 22-Mar 22 compared to Jan 21-Mar 21.

RANK INDUSTRY ROLE TYPE ANNUAL SALARY SALARY GROWTH
1 Retail & Consumer Products Branch Manager $76,909 -2%
2 Retail & Consumer Products Department Manager $61,951 -2%
3 Retail & Consumer Products Store Manager $58,886 6%
4 Retail & Consumer Products Grocery Assistant $56,287 19%
5 Retail & Consumer Products Duty Manager $55,511 7%
6 Retail & Consumer Products Team Leader $54,562 -9%
7 Retail & Consumer Products Assistant $54,049 8%
8 Retail & Consumer Products Assistant Manager $53,218 8%
9 Retail & Consumer Products Sales Consultant $53,153 2%
10 Retail & Consumer Products Second in Charge $50,972 4%
11 Retail & Consumer Products Checkout Supervisor $50,595 7%
12 Retail & Consumer Products Counter Manager $50,338 10%
13 Retail & Consumer Products Supervisor $49,654 -8%
14 Retail & Consumer Products Checkout Operator $49,617 8%
15 Retail & Consumer Products Salesperson $49,095 7%
16 Retail & Consumer Products Sales Associate $48,616 6%
17 Retail & Consumer Products Optical Assistant $47,555 5%
18 Retail & Consumer Products Sales Assistant $47,430 5%
19 Retail & Consumer Products Merchandiser $46,995 3%
20 Retail & Consumer Products Team Member $46,711 1%

Source: SEEK, based on average annual full time and annualised hourly salaries (excluding contract roles) for job ads listed on SEEK from Jan 22-Mar 22 compared to Jan 21-Mar 21.

RANK INDUSTRY ROLE TYPE ANNUAL SALARY SALARY GROWTH
1 Sales Business Manager $109,788 -3%
2 Sales Relationship Manager $107,513 1%
3 Sales Sales Manager $105,951 4%
4 Sales Business Development Manager $100,979 0%
5 Sales Sales Engineer $91,466 10%
6 Sales Account Manager $88,281 2%
7 Sales Sales Specialist $85,283 4%
8 Sales Account Executive $82,101 2%
9 Sales Territory Manager $81,542 5%
10 Sales Sales Executive $80,338 1%
11 Sales Salesperson $76,418 18%
12 Sales Sales Consultant $75,897 9%
13 Sales Sales Representative $71,521 3%
14 Sales Sales Coordinator $60,773 4%

Source: SEEK, based on average annual full time and annualised hourly salaries (excluding contract roles) for job ads listed on SEEK from Jan 22-Mar 22 compared to Jan 21-Mar 21.

RANK INDUSTRY ROLE TYPE ANNUAL SALARY SALARY GROWTH
1 Science & Technology Scientist $93,828 2%
2 Science & Technology Technologist $83,234 3%
3 Science & Technology Technician $60,708 6%
4 Science & Technology Laboratory Technician $58,806 7%

Source: SEEK, based on average annual full time and annualised hourly salaries (excluding contract roles) for job ads listed on SEEK from Jan 22-Mar 22 compared to Jan 21-Mar 21.

RANK INDUSTRY ROLE TYPE ANNUAL SALARY SALARY GROWTH
1 Sport & Recreation Trainer $74,012 4%
2 Sport & Recreation Coach $57,096 -8%
3 Sport & Recreation Instructor $52,964 1%
4 Sport & Recreation Lifeguard $49,077 8%

Source: SEEK, based on average annual full time and annualised hourly salaries (excluding contract roles) for job ads listed on SEEK from Jan 22-Mar 22 compared to Jan 21-Mar 21.

RANK INDUSTRY ROLE TYPE ANNUAL SALARY SALARY GROWTH
1 Trades & Services Service Manager $97,816 -3%
2 Trades & Services Operations Manager $97,714 5%
3 Trades & Services Branch Manager $88,029 2%
4 Trades & Services Plumber $80,973 8%
5 Trades & Services Electrician $80,678 8%
6 Trades & Services Diesel Technician $79,149 9%
7 Trades & Services Builder $75,961 7%
8 Trades & Services Foreperson $74,954 -4%
9 Trades & Services Fitter $74,603 2%
10 Trades & Services Security Technician $74,574 7%
11 Trades & Services Field Service Technician $74,015 1%
12 Trades & Services Fitter and Turner $74,002 10%
13 Trades & Services Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Technician $73,700 -3%
14 Trades & Services Vehicle Technician $72,359 -1%
15 Trades & Services Mechanic $72,231 4%
16 Trades & Services Service Technician $71,276 7%
17 Trades & Services Roofer $70,112 13%
18 Trades & Services Service Adviser $69,570 6%
19 Trades & Services Maintenance Technician $69,155 6%
20 Trades & Services Team Leader $68,470 -6%

Source: SEEK, based on average annual full time and annualised hourly salaries (excluding contract roles) for job ads listed on SEEK from Jan 23-Mar 23 compared to Jan 22-Mar 22.

*A minimum threshold of job ads per quarter on SEEK is required for a role to appear in this table

Finance leaders top the list 

Roles for Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) in the Accounting industry are attracting the biggest pay packets in New Zealand. The average advertised salary for the role is $198,644 – that’s an 8% year-on-year increase. 

Angela Cameron, CEO, Consult Recruitment says CFO salaries are increasing because employers are seeking more than strong financial acumen. 

“COVID created greater demand for different skills and capabilities of CFOs than ever before,” she says. “The ability to pivot, to drive change through an organisation from a financial perspective and to feed information and data throughout the business quickly so that decisions can be made without delay. 

“So, for a good, change-embracing, data-loving CFO, it's a really good time to look for a new role and to succeed in getting a good pay rise,” adds Cameron. 

Higher pay for tech workers 

Salaries for jobs in the Information & Communications Technology (ICT) sector are also among the highest in New Zealand. 

The average advertising salary for Change Managers, for example, is $167,345, which is 6% more than the same time last year. Solutions Architects are now receiving an average of $160,122. That’s also a 6% lift year-on-year. 

“The salary rises we’ve seen in tech in general, and certainly within change manager roles, has been crazy over the past couple of years,” says Cameron.  

“New Zealand lost a lot of industry talent during the first lockdown, with a lot of people returning to their home country and not being able to get back in that first lockdown. But that also combined with most of the large corporates going through digital transformation over the last couple of years.  

“It has created a massive demand for people with good tech skills and capabilities,” adds Cameron. “Demand has slowed down slightly this year, but it's still a great market to be looking for jobs that are paying a lot higher than they did a couple of years ago.” 

How to negotiate a pay rise 

Megan Alexander, Managing Director, Robert Half New Zealand, recommends using your knowledge of salary trends during pay negotiations. 

You can’t assume that you will get a pay rise just by asking for it,” she says. “It’s important to understand the market conditions, but you should also be looking at the tangible things that you've achieved. How have you incorporated feedback from your last performance review?   

"We all bring different skills and personalities to a job, particularly when it comes to soft skills, like initiative and communication,” adds Alexander.  

Cameron also recommends doing some homework.  

“You need to understand where the market sits in terms of supply and demand of talent, as well as average salary trends,” she says. 

Understanding the company is also important, adds Cameron. 

“Where would you add value? And how does that line up with where the market demand is?” 

Above all, Cameron says it’s important to understand your own strengths. 

“If you’re seeking a pay rise from your existing employer or looking at a new role, take some time out to list the achievements that you've had in your role to date. Understand how you fit within the organisation you are in and the wider team,” she says. “If you’re asking for a huge pay rise and you know that other people in the organisation have more experience or capability, it's probably not going to work out well. 

“How do you add value to the organisation, whether it's through leadership or contributions to workplace culture? It’s not just about understanding the market. It’s about understanding yourself.” 

Making the most of your job search 

If salary is the key motivator in the hunt for your next job, you can make it a priority in your search. 

SEEK’s salary filter lets you search for jobs by salary, even if an employer doesn’t show the salary range on the job ad. It helps you save time and energy by showing you the jobs that meet your salary needs.  

As the cost of living continues to rise, money is likely on your mind. Knowledge of salary trends in your industry can help you work through your next pay negotiation. Focus on the facts and be sure to highlight the value that you bring. 

See how your salary compares to the average salary for your role.