Revealed: How much better Australians are paid and which sectors pay the best

New data shows how much you earn can depend largely on where you live – both in New Zealand and across the Trans-Tasman nation.

Recruitment firm Hays has published its latest salary guide, which covers “typical” salaries for a variety of roles.

Hays NZ managing director David Trollope said that in Australia and New Zealand, 86 per cent of organizations said they intended to offer pay rises in the coming year, up from 95 per cent the year before.

Organizations planning to offer more than 3 percent were also 25 percent less.

He said human resources and accounting and finance appear to be the areas most likely to see pay increases.

Cost of living was a big factor in determining the size of the raise, he said.

“New Zealand’s labor market remains quite strong and, most importantly, sentiment is improving after a difficult year.”

He said there was “no denying” it was a competitive job market, but it would be easier for people in fields such as HR, healthcare and engineering to find new roles.

In Australia, some roles paid much better. For example, a civil engineer in the construction sector could earn 50 per cent more in Sydney, according to Hays data.

But in some other positions the pay was more similar. Hays said a cybersecurity person would be paid $140,000 in New Zealand but A$135,000 (NZ$145,450) in Sydney.

The chief operating officer of a company with a turnover of $50 million to $500 million might typically earn $325,000 in New Zealand, but $500,000 Australian ($540,000) in Australia.

In November 2023, average total weekly earnings in Australia for a full-time job were A$1,953.70 ($2,110). In New Zealand in September, the average weekly earnings of all full-time workers were $1,558.

University of Otago associate professor Dennis Wesselbaum said changes would be necessary for New Zealand wages to catch up with Australian wages overall.

He added that productivity growth, a stronger macroeconomy, structural changes towards different types of jobs, greater investment in education, support for small businesses, more foreign direct investment and infrastructure development will be needed.

He said tax cuts and flexible working conditions would also help.

But economist Shamubeel Eaqub said it would take a long time and the gap had been growing for decades.

“We were probably too rich in the past, not too poor now.”

He said the last national government tried to fill the gap but failed.

“It’s about the basics, how to make good use of your human capital, your institutions, your culture? Easy to say, but hard to do. The gap has been growing for a long time. Why should we expect to reverse this quickly?”

Accounting and finance

Figures show that a financial controller in a company with a turnover of up to $100 million would typically earn $155,000 in Auckland, $150,000 in Wellington and $140,000 in Christchurch. In Sydney, they could typically earn A$165,000 ($178,000).

A trade analyst could earn $130,000 in Auckland, $120,000 in Wellington and Christchurch, and A$130,000 ($140,000) in Sydney. A corporate accountant in a company with a turnover of $100 million to $300 million could typically earn $120,000 in Auckland, $110,000 in Wellington and $105,000 in Christchurch. In Sydney they would typically earn A$125,000 ($135,000).

A graduate assistant accountant with no experience would start at $60,000 in Christchurch, $65,000 in Wellington and $60,000 in Auckland, and $65,000 Australian ($70,200) in Sydney.

Tax accountants would typically earn $95,000 in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, but A$120,000 ($130,000) in Sydney.

Architecture

Graduate architects would start at $85,000 in Auckland and $75,000 in Wellington and Christchurch. In Sydney they would earn A$75,000. ($81,000).

A senior architect with more than 10 years of experience would earn A$130,000 ($140,400) in Sydney, $125,000 in Auckland and $120,000 in Wellington and Christchurch.

An interior designer typically earned $80,000 in Auckland, $70,000 in Wellington and Christchurch, and $85,000 Australian ($91,800) in Sydney.

Planners with five years or more of experience would earn $100,000 in Wellington and Christchurch, $110,000 in Auckland and A$112,000 ($121,000) in Sydney.

Construction

A civil construction foreman typically earns A$140,000 ($151,200) in Sydney and $85,000 in New Zealand.

A construction project manager would earn A$180,000 in Sydney and A$130,000 in New Zealand. A construction engineer would earn $80,000 in Auckland, $82,000 in Wellington and $75,000 in the South Island, but A$120,000 ($194,400) in Sydney.

A construction foreman would earn A$140,000 ($151,200) in Sydney and $90,000 in New Zealand.

Contact centers

A customer service representative typically earned $60,000 a year in Auckland, $57,000 in Wellington and $52,000 in Christchurch, but A$65,000 ($70,200) in Sydney.

Telesales consultants could earn $49,000 in Christchurch, $55,000 in Wellington and Auckland and A$70,000 ($75,600) in Sydney.

Engineering

A civil designer/engineer would typically earn $120,000 in Auckland, $105,000 in Wellington and Christchurch, and A$112,000 ($121,000) in Sydney.

A civil engineer would earn A$110,000 ($118,800) in Sydney, $120,000 in Auckland, $110,000 in Wellington and $110,000 in Christchurch.

Surveyors typically earned A$120,000 ($129,600) in Sydney, $110,000 in Auckland, $105,000 in Wellington and $100,000 in Christchurch.

Executive

Hays said the CEO of a commercial company with a turnover of up to $50 million typically earns $300,000 in New Zealand and $350,000 ($378,000) in Australia. For nonprofits of the same size, the salary is typically $275,000 in New Zealand and $280,000 AUD ($302,400) in Australia.

Facilities management

A construction manager could earn A$85,000 ($91,800) in Sydney and $92,000 in New Zealand. For a facilities manager, the salary is typically $102,000 in Auckland and Wellington, or $92,000 in Christchurch. Sydney will pay A$120,000 ($129,600).

Human resources

Hays said the head of human resources at a company with more than 1,000 employees typically pays $250,000 in New Zealand and A$290,000 ($313,200) in Sydney. An HR manager for a company with 250 to 1,000 employees would earn $133,000 in New Zealand and $170,000 Australian ($183,600) in Sydney.

A learning and development manager could earn $128,000 in New Zealand or A$155,000 ($167,400) in Sydney.

Insurance

Underwriting assistants would earn around $60,000 in New Zealand and A$70,000 ($75,600) in Sydney in general insurance. A national claims adjuster would earn about the same here and A$67,000 ($72,360) in Sydney. An account executive at an insurance broker would typically earn A$180,000 ($194,400) in Sydney and $150,000 in New Zealand.

Logistics

A warehouse operations manager can earn A$110,000 in New Zealand, A$150,000 ($162,000) in Sydney or A$130,000 ($140,400) in Melbourne.

A transport manager would earn A$110,000 in New Zealand, A$132,000 ($142,500) in Sydney and A$90,000 ($97,200) in Hobart. A supply chain demand planner would typically earn A$80,000 in New Zealand, A$110,000 ($118,800) in Sydney and A$100,000 ($108,000) in Melbourne.

Marketing

An events manager would earn A$120,000 ($129,600) in Sydney and $90,000 in New Zealand. A graphic designer typically earns $85,000 in this country, or A$90,000 ($97,200) in Melbourne. A media relations manager can earn A$125,000 in New Zealand, A$135,000 ($145,800) in Sydney, and only A$110,000 ($118,800) in Hobart.

Office support

Hays said an administrative assistant with six to 12 months’ experience would earn $60,000 in Auckland, $55,000 in Wellington and $53,000 in Christchurch. A receptionist with more than 12 months’ experience would earn A$70,000 ($75,600) in Sydney, $60,000 in Auckland, $55,000 in Wellington or $56,000 in Christchurch. A switchboard operator might earn $49,000 in Wellington or Christchurch, but A$65,000 ($70,200) in Sydney.

Politics and strategy

Hays said a policy adviser would typically earn $82,000 in Wellington and A$80,000 ($86,400) in Canberra. A program manager can typically receive $115,000 in Wellington or A$150,000 ($162,000) in Sydney.

Technology

A project and change management business analyst could earn A$140,000 ($151,200) in Sydney or $110,000 in Auckland and Wellington. An automation programmer can earn A$130,000 ($140,400) in Sydney or $140,000 in Auckland. A cloud platform engineer could typically earn $170,000 in Auckland, $150,000 in Wellington, or A$160,000 ($172,800) in Sydney. A cybersecurity analyst typically earns A$145,000 ($156,600) in Sydney, $130,000 in Auckland and Wellington, or $120,000 in Christchurch.