Who earns what?
This section shows the impact of qualifications on earnings. Also, you can find out what occupations are the highest and lowest earners, and compare employee earnings by occupation.
On this page
The impact of qualifications on earnings
Level of education is proven to have a big effect on how much a person can earn. Look at the chart below for some interesting comparisons between qualifications and income.
Source: Education Counts, 'Impact of Education on Income', 2008.
- If you have a tertiary qualification you are likely to earn 30% more than those without a school qualification.
- If you have a Bachelor’s degree or higher you are likely to earn at least double the amount that a school leaver with no qualifications can earn.
- If you finish a degree you are likely to earn 25% more than if you drop out part-way through.
- You are less likely to be unemployed if you have a higher qualification than school.
How are earnings spread across the industries?
The top five earning industries (including self-employment) are:
- "Money isn't everything but we would like our children to make well-informed career decisions."
- mining
- electricity, gas and water supply
- finance and insurance
- government administration and defence
- wholesale trade.
The lower earning industries (including self-employment) are:
- accommodation, cafés and restaurants
- agriculture, forestry and fishing
- retail trade
- personal and other services
- cultural and recreational services.
Source: Leed, "Employment, Earnings and Income Statistics", 2006.
It’s important to note that these lower earning industries traditionally attract a large amount of seasonal and part-time workers. Employment in these occupations is often secondary employment.
What are the highest paying occupations?
Use the tables below to compare average yearly salaries (before tax) for the highest income earners with those of the lowest income earners.
It’s important to note that these are average incomes, so salary ranges aren’t shown. People in some of these occupations may earn more or less than the average, depending on experience.
As a comparison, remember that the average annual salary in New Zealand is $45,000 before tax.
Highest income earners by industry
Industry group | Average annual salary ($NZ) |
|---|---|
Medical practitioners | 98,300 |
ICT Managers | 87,700 |
Legal professionals | 82,100 |
Chief executives, general managers and legislators | 69,600 |
Advertising and sales managers | 69,300 |
Financial brokers and dealers, and investment advisers | 69,200 |
Air and marine transport professionals | 67,300 |
Education, health and welfare services managers | 64,700 |
Lowest income earners by industry
Industry group | Average annual salary ($NZ) |
|---|---|
Education aides | 16,800 |
Cleaners and laundry workers | 16,700 |
Sales support workers | 16,200 |
Hospitality workers | 16,100 |
Child carers | 15,900 |
Food preparation assistants | 11,100 |
Checkout operators and office cashier | 10,800 |
Most of the industries listed above attract part-time workers and for many workers, these jobs are their secondary employment.
Source: Statistics New Zealand, ‘2006 Census of Population Dwellings Occupation (ANZSCO 1.0 by Total Income for Employed Census Usually Resident Population Count Aged 15 Years and Over)’, 2006.
An income comparison between different industries
Use the tables below to compare the average yearly income (before tax) of occupations in different industries.
Technicians and trade workers industry
Industry group | Average annual salary ($NZ) |
|---|---|
Electrotechnology and telecommunications trades workers | 43,800 |
Automotive and engineering trades workers | 39,500 |
Construction trades workers | 37,100 |
Other technicians and trades workers | 33,500 |
Food trades workers | 25,700 |
Find out more information and quick job facts on any of these occupations
Managers industry
Industry group | Average annual salary ($NZ) |
|---|---|
ICT managers | 87,700 |
Chief executives, general managers and legislators | 69,600 |
Advertising and sales managers | 69,300 |
Education, health and welfare services managers | 64,700 |
Business administration managers | 64,500 |
Miscellaneous hospitality, retail and service managers | 57,300 |
Miscellaneous specialist managers | 52,900 |
Construction, distribution and production managers | 50,100 |
Farmers and farm managers | 41,100 |
Retail managers | 35,500 |
Accommodation and hospitality managers | 33,100 |
Find out more information and quick job facts on any of these occupations
Professional positions industry
Industry group | Average annual salary ($NZ) |
|---|---|
ICT professionals | 60,700 |
Business, human resource and marketing professionals | 59,600 |
Design, engineering, science and transport professionals | 55,700 |
Health professionals | 53,000 |
Legal, social and welfare professionals | 52,500 |
Education professionals | 42,900 |
Miscellaneous hospitality, retail and service managers | 57,300 |
Miscellaneous specialist managers | 52,900 |
Arts and media professionals | 40,000 |
Find out more information and quick job facts on any of these occupations
Community and personal service workers industry
Industry group | Average annual salary ($NZ) |
|---|---|
Defence force members, firefighters and police | 51,600 |
Prison and security officers | 35,900 |
Personal service and travel workers | 32,700 |
Health and welfare support workers | 30,300 |
Sports and fitness workers | 26,400 |
Personal carers and assistants | 19,000 |
Education aides | 16,800 |
Hospitality workers | 16,100 |
Child carers | 15,900 |
Find out more information and quick job facts on any of these occupations
Clerical and administrative workers industry
Industry group | Average annual salary ($NZ) |
|---|---|
Office and practice managers | 43,000 |
Contract, program and project administrators | 42,600 |
Financial and insurance clerks | 41,400 |
Logistics clerks | 39,700 |
Miscellaneous clerical and administrative workers | 37,500 |
Personal assistants and secretaries | 36,300 |
Accounting clerks and bookkeepers | 34,600 |
Call or contact centre information clerks | 31,000 |
General clerks | 30,600 |
Clerical and office support workers | 27,400 |
Keyboard operators | 27,200 |
Receptionists | 24,900 |
Find out more information and quick job facts on any of these occupations
Sales workers industry
Industry group | Average annual salary ($NZ) |
|---|---|
Real estate sales agents | 64,600 |
Insurance agents and sales representatives | 35,500 |
Miscellaneous sales support workers | 24,600 |
Sales assistants and salespersons | 22,700 |
Checkout operators and office cashiers | 10,800 |
Find out more information and quick job facts on any of these occupations
Machinery operators and drivers industry
Industry group | Average annual salary ($NZ) |
|---|---|
Mobile plant operators | 36,900 |
Road and rail drivers | 34,500 |
Machine and stationary plant operators | 34,300 |
Storepersons | 28,800 |
Find out more information and quick job facts on any of these occupations
Labourers industry
Industry group | Average annual salary ($NZ) |
|---|---|
Construction and mining labourers | 34,600 |
Factory process workers | 28,500 |
Farm, forestry and garden workers | 25,400 |
Other labourers | 24,900 |
Cleaners and laundry workers | 16,700 |
Food preparation assistants | 11,200 |
Find out more information and quick job facts on any of these occupations
Source: Statistics New Zealand, ‘2006 Census of Population Dwellings Occupation (ANZSCO 1.0 by Total Income for Employed Census Usually Resident Population Count Aged 15 Years and Over)’, 2006.
