Work visa wage rates
To be eligible to apply for a work visa, you need to be paid a required amount. Find out about the wage rates and rules we use for different work visas.
What is the required wage rate for a work visa?
Some work visas require you to be paid a certain amount — we call this the required wage rate. We check the wage rate that you have been offered for a job to check it meets the required wage rate for the visa you are applying for.
If the wage rate for your visa increases
If you already have a visa and the wage rate for your visa increases, you do not need to meet the new wage rate. However, if you apply for another visa, you will need to meet the new wage rate.
If you want to check the wage rates now, go to:
How we work out wage rates
Median wage rate
Some immigration wage rates and income thresholds are based on the median wage. The median wage rate we use changes each year. When the median wage increases, wage rates that are based on the median wage will also increase.
The wage rate or threshold that applies to you will depend on what visa you have and when you got it.
Labour market statistics (income): June 2025 quarter — Stats NZ
All wage rates we use are hourly rates and in New Zealand dollars (NZD).
Use the median wage calculator to work out your hourly wage rate:
Median wage comparison calculator
Market rate
The New Zealand market rate is a range of pay that a New Zealander or resident would be paid within to do the job, or equivalent work. For example, the market rate pay range for a job could be between NZD $27 and NZD $30 an hour.
Other wage rates
Some wage rates are based on or indexed to:
- the New Zealand minimum wage
- other occupation-specific wage rates (for example, wage rates from pay equity settlements).
Different wage rates and thresholds apply to other skilled resident visas, such as work to residence visas, and the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Visa. Find out more:
AEWV jobs must pay at least the
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 you can support will depend on your job and how much you earn.
If you have an AEWV you may be able to support a Partner of a Worker Work Visa for your partner, depending on how much you earn and your job.
Bringing family if you have an AEWV
There is no income requirement if you have a different work visa and you can support a visa for your partner.
Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) workers returning for their third or subsequent season must be paid at least the
All other RSE workers must be paid at least the New Zealand adult 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
The minimum pay rate for this visa is updated in October each year.
Fishing crew employment conditions
| Sector | From 31 October 2025 (in NZD) |
|---|---|
| Seafood (sea-based) Fishing crew | $29.50 |
This visa closed to new applications on 4 July 2022.