Top ten highest salaries in New Zealand
Wondering which jobs in the Hays Salary Guide pay the most?
If you're planning your future career goals and want a long and happy working life, don’t just focus on going after the jobs with the highest salary. However, knowing what jobs pay the best in your preferred industry can help you map out career moves for future prosperity.
The highest paying jobs in New Zealand in 2024-2025
Along with the latest market insights and trends, our Hays Salary Guide reveals typical salaries for thousands of jobs across New Zealand. Based on this data, we’ve collated the following list of some of NZ’s highest paying jobs.
While most of the salaries listed here are for roles in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, there are a few exceptions for specific roles elsewhere in New Zealand.
For salaries in other locations or other roles in your field, please see our complete Hays Salary Guide and to check if your salary stacks up, try the Hays Salary Checker.
Executive: CEO and MD (up to $650K)
Running the company is a good place to plan to end up with you want to take home a top pay packet.
For CEOs and managing directors in commercial organisations with turnovers between $50-$500m, the typical income is $500k and can reach up to $650k.
For Chief Operating Officers (COOs) and Executive General Managers, incomes in commercial organisations with turnovers between $50-$500m are typically around $325k but can reach up to $450k as well. Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) and Financial Directors in the same organisations typically earn around $400k but can reach up to $500k.
For smaller companies with turnovers less than $50m those salaries average at around $300k for CEOs, although can reach up to $375k. COOs can earn up to $285k and CFOs up to $280k.
CEOs and other executives seeking new opportunities should demonstrate how they have advanced service delivery in their organisation by introducing new technologies and strategies. Executives also need to demonstrate their ability to foster collaboration and strengthen team culture in remote work environments to attract new career opportunities and top salaries.
Accountancy: Senior Commercial Managers/Directors (up to $260k)
In Auckland and Wellington Senior Commercial Managers/Directors can earn up to $260k, while that figure drops to $220k in Christchurch and Dunedin.
Other top paying roles can be found for Head of Treasury (up to $200k in Auckland), Head of Tax (up to $184k) and Head of Internal Audit (also up to $184k).
Logistics and Procurement: Chief Procurement Officer (up to $220k)
While there aren’t that many higher end salaries in the logistics sector, there are a couple of big roles at the top of the pile – Chief Procurement Officers can earn up to $220k, with a typical salary sitting at $180k; while Supply Chain Directors can earn up to $200k.
Banking and Finance: Head of Risk (up to $204k)
The banking and finance market continues to grow, with organisations expanding to offer many attractive career opportunities, some of which overlap with the world of accountancy.
Where there is risk there seems to be reward - Head of Risk can earn up to $204k in Auckland and $194k in Wellington. Other jobs in this area include: Operation Risk Manager (up to $143k in most of New Zealand) and Compliance Risk Manager up to $122k.
Human Resources: Head of HR/HR Director (up to $300k)
Given how workplaces continue to transform, HR professionals are essential advisors for many organisations who need to navigate the changing world of business and industrial regulation. Demand for skilled and experienced HR professionals has consequently intensified. The Head of HR in an NZ organisation of over 1000 employees can earn up to $300k with a typical salary of $250k. The typical salary drops to $194k for organisations of between 250 and 1000 employees, and $163k for less than 250 employees.
Other upper limits for members of the HR team include Director of Remuneration (up to $224k), WHS Director (up to $184k), Learning and Development Director (up to $224k) and Change Manager (up to $180k).
Property: Development Director (up to $408k)
Jobs with the highest salary in New Zealand’s property sector today include development directors, who can earn up to $408k in Auckland – higher than in Sydney. That drops to a high of $357k in Wellington and Christchurch.
Meanwhile a Development Manager can also earn up to $265k in Auckland, and over $200k in both Wellington and Christchurch.
Renewable Energy: Project Development Director (up to $300K)
As Renewable Energy grows in significance, its salaries rise as well – especially as it’s an area where skills shortages are prevalent. Project Development Directors are way out in front, commanding salaries up to $300k and typically $280k. Behind that a Project Development Manager can earn up to $240k.
As well as running projects, there is a huge demand for skills that connect green energy to the grid and their salaries have risen significantly in the last year: A Grid Connection Manager can earn up to $250k and a Grid Connection Engineer up to $220k.
Sales: General Manager of Sales and Sales Director (up to $300k)
New Zealand’s top sales jobs earners are Directors of Sales and General Managers, particularly in the areas of either FMCG and Consumer Goods, or Industrial and Technical Sales. General Managers in these areas can earn up to $300k in Auckland.
There is a longer tail of high salaries in the area of FMCG, with Head of Sales and Head of Customer earning up to $200k and $180k respectively.
Marketing & Digital: Executive Director of Communications (up to $275k)
If you work in marketing, it’s the PR and Comms area that earns the biggest bucks. Executive Directors of Communications have the biggest earning potential, commanding a salary of up to $275k. An ordinary Director of Comms without the Exec tag can expect to earn up to $250k, Marketing Directors can earn up to $220k.
Sustainability & Environment: Head of sustainability / ESG (up to $270K)
Sustainability in organisations continues to rise in importance and this is shown with the rapid growth of not only roles, but wages in the sector itself. Heads of Sustainability/ESG can earn up to $270k, while a Sustainability Manager can earn up to $220k and an Environmental Manager the same.
Construction: Construction Manager (up to $224K)
The construction sector has many in-demand and high paying roles across different areas and geographies. The highest paying jobs in building construction are commercial Construction Managers (up to $224k), while in civil construction a Construction Manager will have a maximum salary of $200k, and in residential building it can hit $180k.
Other bigger salaries within building construction include Project Managers (up to $180k), Design Managers (up to $150k) and Site Managers (up to $160k).
Engineering: Group Manager (up to $260k)
A Group Manager for an Engineering company can earn up to $260k in Auckland which outstrips anywhere in Australia.
Find more of New Zealand’s highest paying jobs
As you can see, plenty of the highest paying jobs in NZ exist across a wide range of industry sectors. Whether you’re looking to get into mining, education, retail, defence, or any other area, many roles offer competitive pay and a secure, long-term future.
For more information on which jobs pay the most in New Zealand download the Hays Salary Guide. Our flagship report is full of findings pertinent to employers and candidates making smarter decisions in the world of work and offers an insightful portrait of typical salaries across 26 sectors and industries.