The minimum wage in New Zealand in 2024 is NZD 23.15 (New Zealand dollars) per hour. However, there are other issues to take into account when talking about earning a salary in this country.
In this article, we answer the most frequently asked questions about how much you can earn in New Zealand. In addition, we tell you how to get a job if you want to spend time in New Zealand taking advantage of its opportunities and charms. Are you ready? We are about to take off!
How much does one earn per month on the minimum wage in New Zealand?
The minimum wage in New Zealand is expressed in hours. To make a monthly calculation, you should know that the working schedule in this country is 40 hours per week full-time and 20 hours per week part-time.
So, if you get a job in New Zealand and earn the minimum wage, the following calculation applies:
23.15 x 40 (8 hours per day from Monday to Friday) = 926
926 x 4 = 3,704 NZD per month
So, what you would earn gross working in New Zealand full-time is an amount of 3,704 NZD per month. From there, you have to deduct fixed expenses:
Please note that, in some countries such as Australia and New Zealand, payments are made weekly. This applies to salary and expenses such as rent or English courses.
How much tax do you pay in New Zealand?
As we told you at the beginning of the article, the calculation of your salary is out of tax. This calculation is made in proportion to your annual income and the current scheme establishes that, for incomes between 14,000 and 48,000 NZD per year, the tax rate is 17.5%.
In case you earn less, you must pay a fee of 10.5%.
In other words, earning the minimum wage in New Zealand on a full-time basis will be deducted 17.5%. To learn more about taxes in New Zealand, take a look at the IRD website, which is the taxpayer number with which you can formally work in the country.
What types of jobs offer the minimum wage in New Zealand?
Now that you know how much you can earn, you may wonder which jobs offer the minimum wage in New Zealand. First of all, you should keep in mind that the most common minimum wage jobs are unskilled or inexperienced positions, which are suitable for students in New Zealand.
For example, manufacturing, services, and retail apply to this category, with an annual income of NZD 48,000 according to the New Zealand Government salary guide. Among the most in-demand minimum wage jobs in New Zealand are:
- Receptionists.
- Kitchen assistants.
- Fast food employees.
- Domestic service.
- Waiters.
- Caregivers.
- Store clerks.
- Cleaning personnel.
- Agricultural workers.
You should know that, although these are minimum wage jobs, you usually end up earning more than that, as the salary also depends on the company, over time, your experience, and tips, if applicable.
What jobs offer higher pay than minimum wage?
On the other hand, jobs for qualified personnel pay more than the minimum wage in New Zealand. The question is: can you get one of these jobs in New Zealand if you are a foreigner? The answer is yes, but you have to go through the right process.
The best way is to go to study in New Zealand since your career will give you a solid foundation to get better jobs. Among the most demanded professions in this country, the following stand out:
- IT professionals.
- Database experts.
- Civil engineers.
- Accountants.
- Architects.
- Designers.
Train yourself in high-demand professions with GrowPro experiences in New Zealand!
Is it enough to live on the minimum wage in New Zealand, and is it possible to save?
To know if you can live with the minimum wage in New Zealand, you must first know what is the cost of living here.
However, it is complicated to make an accurate calculation, since several variables determine this value, such as the city where you live, the type of rent, and your lifestyle.
Because of this, what you can do is make an approximate calculation based on your monthly payment after taxes and after deducting various expenses:
- Fixed expenses: rent, food, electricity, internet, telephone, transportation.
- Additional expenses: outings, gym, subscriptions.
So, let’s do a rough simulation of how much you would have left to save if you decide to live and work in New Zealand; more specifically, in Auckland, one of the main cities where academic and job opportunities abound for foreigners.
If you earn 3,704 NZD per month and live in a student residence, you should deduct these approximate expenses in Auckland:
- Rent: 800 NZD per month (200 NZD per week)
- Supermarket: 320 NZD per month (80 NZD per week)
- Electricity and water: 180 NZD
- Fixed Internet: 80 NZD
- Mobile data plan: 40 NZD
- Public transportation: 120 NZD monthly pass
- Total to be deducted: 1,540 NZD*.
So, to save, you would be left with: 3,704 – 1,540 = 2,164 NZD
However, if you noticed, we do not include additional expenses such as gym membership (about 50 NZD), getting a haircut (about 30 NZD) or an outing to a bar (about 30 NZD). It all depends on how much you want to save. But if you can, of course you can!
*These figures are for reference only and may vary over time.
What to do if you are offered a job that pays less than minimum wage?
Although the minimum wage in New Zealand is 23.15 NZD per hour, there is an exception related to the type of employee you are. That is, if you are a beginner or trainee, your minimum wage will be 18.52 NZD per hour. This is what is set by the New Zealand Government.
In other words, if you are offered a lower salary than what you are entitled to, it is advisable to reject it, as it is not legal. Labor laws in New Zealand are stringent. If, given the case, your employer pays you a salary well below what was agreed in the contract, you can resort to the ERA (Employment Relations Authority) to resolve labor relations disputes.
Pst, if you would like to study and work in New Zealand, don’t miss our experiences in New Zealand! You can take English or professional courses, and, in your free time, get a job to gain work experience and money to pay for your adventure.
Requirements to work in New Zealand as a foreigner
To close the subject, we want to tell you, briefly, how to get a job in New Zealand and fulfill your goal of living a complete adventure in the country.
The main requirements to work and start earning minimum wage in New Zealand are as follows:
- Be of legal age.
- Have a valid passport.
- To have a work visa.
- Demonstrate that you know English.
- Adapt your CV to the New Zealand standard.
- Processing the IRD.
- Obtain a local telephone number.
- Open a bank account in New Zealand.
It is common to see many people deciding to immigrate to New Zealand as a student, as the Fee Paying Student Visa (Student visa) offers the opportunity to study and work part-time to foreign students and is easier to obtain.
Steps to get a job in New Zealand as a foreigner
By way of summary, we list the steps to follow to get a job in this destination so that you know where to start your search.
- Choose your city.
- Apply for your visa.
- Adapt your CV and translate it.
- Pack your bags and get the best flight.
- Get your phone number and open your bank account.
- Apply for your IRD.
- Obtain your work license according to your industry.
- Let’s get a job!
Study and work in New Zealand with GrowPro
Getting a job and earning minimum wage in New Zealand is just the pretext to live a great adventure if you set your mind to it. Remember that this is a destination of opportunities and adventures, and, at GrowPro, we help you to achieve this experience.
Study in New Zealand for more than three months and get a formal job to live the real Kiwi lifestyle. Find the experience you want to live. Then, fill in your details to receive free personalized advice.
You are just a few clicks away from living the adventure of a lifetime in New Zealand, let’s go together and join our great community of growers! We’ll read each other for now, but see you in the south.
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