Wage rate requirements for visas
Check if you meet the median wage requirement, wage rate requirement, or 'wage threshold' to qualify for a visa.
Working in New Zealand
- Getting a job
- Qualifications for work
- Skilled work
- Starting a business: Entrepreneur Work Visa
- Work rights
- How long can you work in New Zealand for
- How long you can stay on an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)
- Applying for another Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)
- Pay rates for existing Essential Skills Work Visas
- Qualifications eligible for a Post Study Work Visa (PSWV)
- Employing overseas entertainers
- Open work visa for former PSWV holders
- Check if an employer is accredited
- Wage rate requirements for visas
- Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa wage rate thresholds
- Working part-time if you are a dependent child waiting for a residence visa
- Working remotely in New Zealand on a visitor visa
What is a wage threshold
Wage thresholds are rates that Immigration New Zealand (INZ) uses to calculate if visa applicants can get some work visas.
The wage threshold is the lowest amount a person with a work visa can be paid by an employer to qualify for a work visa, or to support a partner or dependent child.
Some jobs are exempt from having to pay the wage threshold amount.
We use wage thresholds as an indicator of the skill level of the job. The rates are updated regularly.
If the wage threshold for your visa increases
If wage threshold for your visa increases, you will not need to meet the new wage threshold rate.
If you want to apply for a new visa
If you want to apply for a new visa, you need to:
- meet a different, higher wage threshold
- gain work experience while being paid the higher wage threshold.
New Zealand skilled residence pathways
Median wage rate
Some immigration wage and income thresholds are based on the 2024 median wage. However, others are based on different thresholds such as the market rate or the 2023 median wage. Check the list of visa types below to find out which applies to you.
When the median wage increases, the wage threshold for the visa may also increase.
In February each year we update the median wage threshold by using the June median wage from the previous year published by Stats NZ.
Labour market statistics (income): June 2024 quarter — Stats NZ
All wage rates shown on here are hourly rates and are in New Zealand dollars.
Use the median wage calculator to work out your hourly wage rate:
Median wage comparison calculator
| Date range | Median wage (in NZD) |
|---|---|
| From 28 February 2025 | $33.56 |
| 28 February 2024 to 27 February 2025 | $31.61 |
| 27 February 2023 to 27 February 2024 | $29.66 |
| 4 July 2022 to 26 February 2023 | $27.76 |
| 29 September 2021 to 3 July 2022 | $27.00 |
Other wage thresholds
Some wage thresholds are based on or indexed to:
- the February 2023 median wage
- the New Zealand minimum wage
- other occupation-specific wage rates (for example, wage rates from pay equity settlements).
Pay thresholds for the different visa types
Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)
AEWV jobs must pay at least the market rate for the job. They must also meet any other legal pay requirements, such as paying the New Zealand minimum wage.
If a job pays at least NZD $59.32 an hour (twice the February 2023 median wage), the employer does not need to advertise the job as part of their job check.
We approve a pay range at the job check stage, which must be at or above the pay threshold. The actual pay rate on the visa is determined at the visa application stage.
How we calculate pay rates for the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)
If you have an AEWV, check if you are able to support a visa for your partner or dependent child. The type of visa of visas you can support will depend on your job and how much you earn.
Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa
To qualify for this visa, you need to:
- currently be paid at least NZD $28.25 an hour (or the equivalent salary)
- worked for 24 months in this sector
- been paid at least the care workforce sector wage rate during that time.
| Date range | Wage rate from 1 July 2022 (in NZD) |
|---|---|
| From 1 July 2022 | $28.25 |
| 29 September 2021 to 30 June 2022 | $27.00 |
Transport Work to Residence Visa
To qualify for this visa you need to have:
- worked for 24 months in this sector, and
- been paid at least the median wage (or the bus drivers wage rate, if applicable) during your work experience.
Transport Work to Residence Visa
Check if you can include past work experience
Some jobs were removed from the list of approved of transport sector roles on 7 April 2024.
Check if you are still able to count work experience gained from a removed job towards your residence visa, if on or before 6 April 2024 you did any of the following:
- started work in one of these jobs
- received an AEWV to work in one of these jobs
- applied for an AEWV to work in one of these jobs and were successful in your application.
Transport Work to Residence Visa work requirements and roles
| Sector | Wage rate from 28 February 2024 (in NZD) |
|---|---|
| Land and maritime transport roles (except bus drivers) | $31.61 |
| Bus drivers | $28.00 |
Work to Residence Visa
The jobs in Table 5 are on the Green List and provide residence through the Work to Residence Visa.
Green List jobs that do not have a specific pay threshold must pay at least NZD $31.61.
| Sector | Wage rate from 28 February 2024 (in NZD) |
|---|---|
| Telecommunications technician (115% of the median wage) | $36.35 |
| Civil machinery operators (115% of the median wage) | $36.35 |
| Crane operator (130% of the median wage) | $41.09 |
| Building associate (150% of the median wage) | $47.41 |
Straight to Residence Visa
The jobs in Table 6 are on the Green List and provide residence through the Straight to Residence Visa.
Green List jobs that do not have a specific pay threshold must pay at least NZD $31.61.
| Sector | Wage rate from 28 February 2024 (in NZD) |
|---|---|
| ICT, electronics and telecommunications (208% of the median wage) | $65.74 |
| ICT, electronics and telecommunications roles based on contract for services (312% of the median wage) | $98.62 |
| Multimedia specialist (165% of the median wage) | $52.15 |
| Multimedia specialist roles based on contract for services (247% of the median wage) | $78.07 |
| External auditor (130% of the median wage) | $41.09 |
| Internal auditor (130% of the median wage) | $41.09 |
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa (SMC)
To assess skilled work for the SMC we use:
- the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupation (ANZSCO) list
- the median wage.
Check the wage rate threshold for SMC expressions of interests submitted after 9 October 2023.
Parent Resident Visa
There is a minimum earning threshold for those wanting to sponsor their parents on a Parent Resident Visa. The sponsor must earn more than the threshold for 2 out of the 3 years preceding our selection of their expression of interest.
The threshold is:
- tied to the median wage
- depends on how many sponsors and parents are in the application.
The Parent Resident Visa is updated in February each year.
Partner of a Worker Work Visa
An Essential Skills Work Visa (ESWV) holder must be paid at least NZD $26.85 an hour (80% of the median wage) to support a Partner of a Worker Work Visa.
Bringing family if you have an ESWV
An Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) holder may be able to support a Partner of a Worker Work Visa depending on how much they earn and their job. Check the requirements an AEWV holder needs to meet to support an application.
Bringing family if you have an AEWV
There are no income requirements for other work visa holders who can support a Partner of a Worker Work Visa.
Recognised Seasonal Employer Limited Visa
Jobs for the Recognised Seasonal Employer Limited Visa must pay 110% of the minimum wage.
Fishing Crew Work Visa
Jobs for this visa are covered by the seafood (sea-based) sector agreement. The minimum pay rate under this sector agreement is calculated using the minimum wage.
The minimum pay rate for this visa is updated in October each year.
Fishing crew employment conditions
| Sector | Wage rate from 31 October 2024 (in NZD) |
|---|---|
| Seafood (sea-based) fishing crew (minimum wage plus $6) | $29.15 |
Essential Skills Work Visa
This visa closed to new applications on 4 July 2022.
The median wage was used to set the requirements and conditions of the Essential Skills Work Visa (ESWV).
Pay rates for existing Essential Skills Work Visas
The median wage rate for ESWV holders was paused. It does not increase in February each year.