Net pay by profession in New Zealand
Genuine net figures for the professions people ask about most in New Zealand, calculated after PAYE and the ACC earner's levy. KiwiSaver is optional, though most people join, and the figures below leave it out. Updated through 2026.
Nurse
~NZD 4,720/month after tax
Software Engineer
~NZD 6,445/month after tax
Teacher
~NZD 4,595/month after tax
Accountant
~NZD 5,410/month after tax
Data Analyst
~NZD 5,535/month after tax
Doctor
~NZD 8,395/month after tax
Lawyer
~NZD 4,290/month after tax
Project Manager
~NZD 5,667/month after tax
How New Zealand tax works
New Zealand's PAYE income tax runs at 10.5% on the first NZD 14,000, 17.5% from NZD 14,001-48,000, 30% from NZD 48,001-70,000, 33% from NZD 70,001-180,000, and 39% above NZD 180,000. New Zealand has no social security payroll tax in the European sense - the ACC earner's levy (roughly 1.6% of income up to a cap) is the only mandatory deduction beyond income tax.
KiwiSaver - NZ's workplace retirement scheme - deducts 3%, 4%, 6%, 8%, or 10% of gross at the employee's choice, with a minimum 3% employer contribution. Opting in reduces take-home but builds a retirement balance. The government also contributes up to NZD 521/year for members who contribute at least NZD 1,042.