Careers advice
What are the highest paying jobs in New Zealand?
Discover New Zealand's highest paying jobs across IT, healthcare, legal, construction and trades, plus top regions.
Last updated: 21 October 2026
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What are the highest paying jobs in New Zealand right now?
| Industry | High-paying roles | Typical annual salary range | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Executive & Corporate Governance | Executive & Corporate Governance | Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Managing Director | Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Managing Director | $220,000 – $500,000+ | $220,000 – $500,000+ |
| Legal Services | Legal Services | Equity Partner, Salaried Partner, General Counsel | Equity Partner, Salaried Partner, General Counsel | $180,000 – $380,000+ | $180,000 – $380,000+ |
| Healthcare & Medical | Healthcare & Medical | Medical Specialist, Anaesthetist, General Practitioner (GP), Sonographer | Medical Specialist, Anaesthetist, General Practitioner (GP), Sonographer | $150,000 – $300,000+ | $150,000 – $300,000+ |
| Information Technology (IT) | Information Technology (IT) | Chief Information Officer (CIO), Technical Lead, Cloud Architect, IT Project Manager | Chief Information Officer (CIO), Technical Lead, Cloud Architect, IT Project Manager | $140,000 – $240,000+ | $140,000 – $240,000+ |
| Construction & Infrastructure | Construction & Infrastructure | Construction Director, Commercial Manager, Senior Quantity Surveyor | Construction Director, Commercial Manager, Senior Quantity Surveyor | $130,000 – $210,000+ | $130,000 – $210,000+ |
| Engineering | Engineering | Engineering Manager, Principal Project Engineer, Senior Structural Engineer | Engineering Manager, Principal Project Engineer, Senior Structural Engineer | $125,000 – $190,000+ | $125,000 – $190,000+ |
Which industries pay the highest average salaries in NZ?
Information Technology and digital infrastructure
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Healthcare and medical specialists
Executive management and corporate leadership
Legal services and compliance
Construction, roading, and infrastructure
What are the highest paying trades and hands-on jobs in NZ?
Which regions in New Zealand offer the highest salaries?
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Frequently asked questions about high-paying NZ careers
How can you position yourself for a higher salary in NZ?
Ready to find your next high-paying role?
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