Check if you meet the median wage requirement, wage rate requirement, or 'wage threshold' to qualify for a visa.
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 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, you need to:
New Zealand skilled residence pathways
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 |
Some wage thresholds are based on or indexed to:
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.
To qualify for this visa, you need to:
| 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 |
To qualify for this visa you need to have:
Transport Work to Residence Visa
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:
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 |
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 |
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 |
To assess skilled work for the SMC we use:
Check the wage rate threshold for SMC expressions of interests submitted after 9 October 2023.
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:
The Parent Resident Visa is updated in February each year.
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.
Jobs for the Recognised Seasonal Employer Limited Visa must pay 110% of the minimum wage.
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 1 April 2025 (in NZD) |
|---|---|
| Seafood (sea-based) fishing crew (minimum wage plus $6) | $29.50 |
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.
Information valid as at 2025/04/01 13:08:4.287322 GMT+13