Best Paying Jobs in New Zealand 2023

List of careers with the highest salaries and the reasons why they pay so much:

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1. 1. Surgeons / Doctors

   Salary Range: from 192,000 NZD to 550,000 NZD

   Surgeons top the list of the highest paying careers due to the critical nature of their job. A surgeon's profession involves high risk and requires extensive knowledge and a long learning path; the necessary ingredients for a high paying career.

   • high risk job
   • extensive knowledge
   • high perceived value
   • revenue generator
2. 2. Judges

   Salary Range: from 161,000 NZD to 462,000 NZD

   Judges earn quite high salaries because of the huge responsibilities associated with their job. Deciding people's fates is not an easy task and the high wage is perfectly justified.

   • high responsibility job
   • extensive knowledge
3. 3. Lawyers

   Salary Range: from 130,000 NZD to 374,000 NZD

   The main reason that lawyers earn big wages is because of their high perceived value in the eyes of their clients. A successful lawyer can save/earn you tons of money or can possibly spare you a death sentence.

   • high perceived value
   • extensive knowledge
   • revenue generator
4. 4. Bank Managers

   Salary Range: from 123,000 NZD to 352,000 NZD

   Being in charge of hundreds of millions in funds and investments with all the associated risks that come along makes managing a bank an extremely critical task worthy of a large salary.

   • high risk
   • high responsibility job
   • huge impact
5. 5. Chief Executive Officers

   Salary Range: from 115,000 NZD to 330,000 NZD

   CEOs are primarily responsible for the success or failure of complete organizations. Their huge remuneration is due to the vast scope of impact as well as the risks involved.

   • widespread impact
   • leadership position
   • high risk
6. 6. Chief Financial Officers

   Salary Range: from 107,000 NZD to 308,000 NZD

   Any job that is about managing money automatically qualifies for high pay. CFOs manage budgets, spending, costs, and revenue which directly impacts the operations of the organization.

   • high risk
   • extensive experience
   • high responsibility job
7. 7. Orthodontists

   Salary Range: from 104,000 NZD to 297,000 NZD

   Orthodontists operate in an industry where people are willing to pay high costs for a service, which directly makes Orthodontists among the best paying jobs.

   • high cost industry
   • high level knowledge
   • high perceived value
   • revenue generator
8. 8. College Professors

   Salary Range: from 92,000 NZD to 264,000 NZD

   College professors are among the top-earning and most prestigious careers. Becoming a professor is not easy and requires persistence which is partly why they earn so high.

   • high level knowledge
   • high perceived value
   • revenue generator
9. 9. Pilots

   Salary Range: from 76,700 NZD to 220,000 NZD

   Probably the only career on the list that involves some kind of excitement, nevertheless; pilots undergo rigorous training programs and they are responsible for the safety of thousands of people every day.

   • high risk
   • extensive experience
10. 10. Marketing Directors

    Salary Range: from 69,000 NZD to 198,000 NZD

    Marketing directors are in charge of increasing the revenue of their organizations. They are directly responsible for generating business and they are well paid for that reason.

    • revenue generator

Best paying jobs in each domain

Highest Paying Jobs in Finance and Accounting

1. 1Finance Director(201,000 NZD)
2. 2Financial Manager(191,000 NZD)
3. 3Investment Advisor(182,000 NZD)
4. 4Risk Management Director(164,000 NZD)
5. 5Economist(159,000 NZD)
6. 6Tax Director(158,000 NZD)
7. 7Audit Director(156,000 NZD)
8. 8Investment Fund Manager(152,000 NZD)
9. 9Accounting Manager(145,000 NZD)
10. 10Auditing Manager(142,000 NZD)

Highest Paying Jobs in Business Administration

1. 1Chief Executive Officer(217,000 NZD)
2. 2Chairman of The Board(211,000 NZD)
3. 3Chief Financial Officer(200,000 NZD)
4. 4Regional Director(193,000 NZD)
5. 5Executive Manager(176,000 NZD)
6. 6Chief Corporate Officer(175,000 NZD)
7. 7Managing Director(174,000 NZD)
8. 8General Manager(169,000 NZD)
9. 9Risk and Capital Manager(164,000 NZD)
10. 10Chief Operating Officer(163,000 NZD)

Highest Paying Jobs in Advertising

1. 1Advertising Sales Director(166,000 NZD)
2. 2Events Director(162,000 NZD)
3. 3Advertising Manager(155,000 NZD)
4. 4Product and Brand Manager(152,000 NZD)
5. 5Sales Promotion Manager(151,000 NZD)
6. 6Media Production Manager(130,000 NZD)
7. 7Media Sales Executive(124,000 NZD)
8. 8Social Media Manager(123,000 NZD)
9. 9Digital Media Strategist(119,000 NZD)
10. 10Advertising Account Manager(116,000 NZD)

Highest Paying Jobs in Architecture

1. 1Architectural Manager(174,000 NZD)
2. 2Architecture Consultant(166,000 NZD)
3. 3Assistant Architectural Manager(164,000 NZD)
4. 4Facilities and Project Manager(159,000 NZD)
5. 5Design Manager(156,000 NZD)
6. 6Landscape Architect(135,000 NZD)
7. 7Architecture Estimating Manager(130,000 NZD)
8. 8Architect(116,000 NZD)
9. 9Architectural Designer(110,000 NZD)
10. 10CAD Manager(109,000 NZD)

Highest Paying Jobs in Automotive / Car Industry

1. 1Regional Manager(188,000 NZD)
2. 2Automotive General Manager(181,000 NZD)
3. 3Automotive Branch Manager(152,000 NZD)
4. 4Automotive Purchase Manager(142,000 NZD)
5. 5Purchasing Project Manager(135,000 NZD)
6. 6Automotive Project Manager(129,000 NZD)
7. 7Auto Parts Manager(123,000 NZD)
8. 8Automotive Assembly Manager(113,000 NZD)
9. 9Service Manager(109,000 NZD)
10. 10Used Car Manager(97,000 NZD)

Highest Paying Jobs in Aviation

1. 1Aviation Manager(203,000 NZD)
2. 2Airport Services Manager(200,000 NZD)
3. 3Airlines Sales Director(195,000 NZD)
4. 4Aviation Safety Manager(188,000 NZD)
5. 5Chief Pilot(174,000 NZD)
6. 6Aircraft Pilot(166,000 NZD)
7. 7Fleet Controller(156,000 NZD)
8. 8Airfield Management Specialist(149,000 NZD)
9. 9Aviation Analyst(130,000 NZD)
10. 10Aerospace Engineer(123,000 NZD)

Highest Paying Jobs in Banking

1. 1International Banking Manager(217,000 NZD)
2. 2Group Branch Manager(214,000 NZD)
3. 3Bank Regional Manager(211,000 NZD)
4. 4Bank Operations Head(207,000 NZD)
5. 5Capital Risk Manager(201,000 NZD)
6. 6Credit Portfolio Manager(198,000 NZD)
7. 7Internal Bank Audit Manager(193,000 NZD)
8. 8Cash Management Manager(186,000 NZD)
9. 9Online Banking Manager(177,000 NZD)
10. 10Mortgage Operations Manager(174,000 NZD)

Highest Paying Jobs in Construction

1. 1Construction Manager(166,000 NZD)
2. 2Construction Project Manager(159,000 NZD)
3. 3Construction Operations Manager(152,000 NZD)
4. 4Site Leader(145,000 NZD)
5. 5Building Contracts Manager(137,000 NZD)
6. 6Tender Manager(132,000 NZD)
7. 7Building Sales Manager(129,000 NZD)
8. 8Construction Quality Control Manager(120,000 NZD)
9. 9Purchasing Manager(109,000 NZD)
10. 10Installation Manager(106,000 NZD)

Highest Paying Jobs in Counseling

1. 1Psychologist(159,000 NZD)
2. 2Director of Rehabilitation Services(152,000 NZD)
3. 3Youth Development Manager(145,000 NZD)
4. 4Guidance Director(142,000 NZD)
5. 5Adoption Services Director(136,000 NZD)
6. 6Mental Health Counselor(130,000 NZD)
7. 7Supervising Counselor(124,000 NZD)
8. 8Family Support Specialist(123,000 NZD)
9. 9Youth Care Counselor(122,000 NZD)
10. 10Employment Counselor(116,000 NZD)

Highest Paying Jobs in Customer Service

1. 1Customer Service Manager(130,000 NZD)
2. 2Service Delivery Manager(127,000 NZD)
3. 3Regional Account Manager(123,000 NZD)
4. 4Customer Success Manager(119,000 NZD)
5. 5Call Center Manager(116,000 NZD)
6. 6Client Relationship Executive(113,000 NZD)
7. 7Operations Support Manager(109,000 NZD)
8. 8Customer Service Executive(86,800 NZD)
9. 9Customer Service Team Leader(81,000 NZD)
10. 10Customer Service Advisor(79,600 NZD)

Highest Paying Jobs in Education and Teaching

1. 1College Dean(188,000 NZD)
2. 2Dean of Faculty(177,000 NZD)
3. 3Professor(174,000 NZD)
4. 4Lecturer(137,000 NZD)
5. 5Head of School(133,000 NZD)
6. 6Post Doctoral Researcher(127,000 NZD)
7. 7Educational Psychologist(125,000 NZD)
8. 8Academic Manager(121,000 NZD)
9. 9Clinical School Psychologist(118,000 NZD)
10. 10Principal(116,000 NZD)

Highest Paying Jobs in Energy

1. 1Operations Manager(203,000 NZD)
2. 2Geophysicist(162,000 NZD)
3. 3Engineering Geologist(159,000 NZD)
4. 4Exploration Manager(155,000 NZD)
5. 5Energy Dispatch Director(153,000 NZD)
6. 6Geothermal Production Manager(149,000 NZD)
7. 7Mining Project Manager(147,000 NZD)
8. 8Service Delivery Manager(142,000 NZD)
9. 9Sustainability Specialist(137,000 NZD)
10. 10Energy Advisor(130,000 NZD)

Highest Paying Jobs in Engineering

1. 1Director of Engineering(174,000 NZD)
2. 2Engineering Production Manager(152,000 NZD)
3. 3Field Engineering Manager(145,000 NZD)
4. 4Electrical Engineering Manager(130,000 NZD)
5. 5Engineering Key Account Manager(127,000 NZD)
6. 6Engineering Project Manager(120,000 NZD)
7. 7Mechanical Engineering Manager(116,000 NZD)
8. 8Engineering Sales Manager(113,000 NZD)
9. 9Engineering Consultant(109,000 NZD)
10. 10Chief Engineer(106,000 NZD)

Highest Paying Jobs in Real Estate

1. 1Portfolio Manager(188,000 NZD)
2. 2Director of Real Estate(181,000 NZD)
3. 3Shopping Center Manager(174,000 NZD)
4. 4Town Planner(170,000 NZD)
5. 5Property Operations Manager(169,000 NZD)
6. 6Real Estate General Manager(166,000 NZD)
7. 7Commercial Leasing Manager(164,000 NZD)
8. 8Community Development Manager(152,000 NZD)
9. 9Real Estate Project Manager(145,000 NZD)
10. 10Property Manager(121,000 NZD)

Highest Paying Jobs in Manufacturing

1. 1Production Director(166,000 NZD)
2. 2Director of Manufacturing(162,000 NZD)
3. 3Industrial Production Manager(156,000 NZD)
4. 4Operational Excellence General Manager(152,000 NZD)
5. 5Technology Development Manager(149,000 NZD)
6. 6Manufacturing Manager(145,000 NZD)
7. 7Plant Manager(142,000 NZD)
8. 8Product Manager(137,000 NZD)
9. 9Shipping Manager(135,000 NZD)
10. 10Key Account Manager(130,000 NZD)

Highest Paying Jobs in Fitness and Sports

1. 1Sports Manager(156,000 NZD)
2. 2Fitness Manager(145,000 NZD)
3. 3Head Coach(137,000 NZD)
4. 4Head Gymnastics Instructor(94,100 NZD)
5. 5Ski Instructor(81,000 NZD)
6. 6Assistant Coach(79,600 NZD)
7. 7Swim Instructor(76,700 NZD)
8. 8Personal Trainer(73,800 NZD)
9. 9Game Manager(70,900 NZD)
10. 10Fitness Trainer(68,000 NZD)

Highest Paying Jobs in Hospitality

1. 1Hospitality Director(181,000 NZD)
2. 2Hotel Manager(174,000 NZD)
3. 3Fleet Manager(149,000 NZD)
4. 4Cluster Director(145,000 NZD)
5. 5Regional Restaurant Manager(137,000 NZD)
6. 6Assistant Hospitality Manager(132,000 NZD)
7. 7Hotel Sales Manager(130,000 NZD)
8. 8Food Service Manager(124,000 NZD)
9. 9Restaurant Manager(117,000 NZD)
10. 10Room Reservations Manager(116,000 NZD)

Highest Paying Jobs in Healthcare

1. 1Surgeon - Heart Transplant(434,000 NZD)
2. 2Chief of Surgery(420,000 NZD)
3. 3Surgeon - Orthopedic(405,000 NZD)
4. 4Surgeon - Plastic Reconstructive(391,000 NZD)
5. 5Invasive Cardiologist(386,000 NZD)
6. 6Surgeon - Neurology(374,000 NZD)
7. 7Surgeon - Pediatric(338,000 NZD)
8. 8Urologist(321,000 NZD)
9. 9Internist(301,000 NZD)
10. 10Chief of Psychology(287,000 NZD)

Highest Paying Jobs in Human Resources

1. 1Chief People Officer(159,000 NZD)
2. 2Director of Talent Acquisition(152,000 NZD)
3. 3Human Resources Vice President(149,000 NZD)
4. 4Human Resources Manager(145,000 NZD)
5. 5Recruiting Manager(142,000 NZD)
6. 6Human Resources Development Manager(137,000 NZD)
7. 7Benefits Manager(126,000 NZD)
8. 8Labor Relations Director(121,000 NZD)
9. 9Human Resources Consultant(117,000 NZD)
10. 10Training Executive(116,000 NZD)

Highest Paying Jobs in Import and Export

1. 1Import and Export Manager(152,000 NZD)
2. 2Exports Sales Manager(149,000 NZD)
3. 3Export Logistics Manager(133,000 NZD)
4. 4Import and Export Consultant(121,000 NZD)
5. 5Importation Supervisor(101,000 NZD)
6. 6Export Logistics Specialist(89,700 NZD)
7. 7Export Supervisor(86,800 NZD)
8. 8Logistics Analyst(80,300 NZD)
9. 9Logistics Administrator(76,700 NZD)
10. 10Global Forwarding Agent(69,500 NZD)

Highest Paying Jobs in Insurance

1. 1Risk Management Director(188,000 NZD)
2. 2Risk Modeling Manager(181,000 NZD)
3. 3Insurance Manager(174,000 NZD)
4. 4Insurance Sales Director(159,000 NZD)
5. 5Policy Change Director(152,000 NZD)
6. 6Auditing Insurance Manager(145,000 NZD)
7. 7Loss Prevention Manager(142,000 NZD)
8. 8Claims Manager(137,000 NZD)
9. 9Actuary(130,000 NZD)
10. 10Insurance Program Manager(127,000 NZD)

Highest Paying Jobs in Information Technology

1. 1Chief Information Officer(159,000 NZD)
2. 2Online Banking Manager(152,000 NZD)
3. 3Information Technology Project Manager(145,000 NZD)
4. 4Enterprise Infrastructure Manager(140,000 NZD)
5. 5Director of Application Development(137,000 NZD)
6. 6Chief Information Security Officer(135,000 NZD)
7. 7Web Security Manager(133,000 NZD)
8. 8Business Intelligence Consultant(132,000 NZD)
9. 9Technical Project Manager(129,000 NZD)
10. 10Information Technology Sales Manager(127,000 NZD)

Highest Paying Jobs in Law and Legal Services

1. 1Supreme Court Judge(289,000 NZD)
2. 2Administrative Law Judge(260,000 NZD)
3. 3Crown Prosecution Service Lawyer(246,000 NZD)
4. 4General Counsel(232,000 NZD)
5. 5Litigation Attorney(217,000 NZD)
6. 6Legal Services Director(210,000 NZD)
7. 7Judge Advocate(203,000 NZD)
8. 8Attorney(188,000 NZD)
9. 9Legal Executive(174,000 NZD)
10. 10Corporate Counsel(137,000 NZD)

Highest Paying Jobs in Marketing

1. 1Brand Director(181,000 NZD)
2. 2Chief Marketing Officer(174,000 NZD)
3. 3Brand Manager(166,000 NZD)
4. 4Marketing Manager(159,000 NZD)
5. 5Chief Product Officer(156,000 NZD)
6. 6Search Marketing Strategist(142,000 NZD)
7. 7Market Development Manager(137,000 NZD)
8. 8Product Manager(135,000 NZD)
9. 9Digital Marketing Manager(133,000 NZD)
10. 10Trade Marketing Executive(130,000 NZD)

Highest Paying Jobs in Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology

1. 1Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Lead(232,000 NZD)
2. 2Pharmaceutical Manager(217,000 NZD)
3. 3Molecular and Cellular Biologist(206,000 NZD)
4. 4Medical Affairs Director(195,000 NZD)
5. 5Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Manager(194,000 NZD)
6. 6Bioinformatics Scientist(188,000 NZD)
7. 7Pharmaceutical Research Scientist(186,000 NZD)
8. 8Pharmaceutical Sales Manager(181,000 NZD)
9. 9Clinical Research Manager(178,000 NZD)
10. 10Pharmacy Manager(174,000 NZD)

Highest Paying Jobs in Public Relations

1. 1Head of Public Relations(163,000 NZD)
2. 2Public Relations Manager(145,000 NZD)
3. 3Director of Communications(139,000 NZD)
4. 4Head of Communications(135,000 NZD)
5. 5Marketing Communications Executive(131,000 NZD)
6. 6Public Relations Executive(127,000 NZD)
7. 7Media Relations Specialist(120,000 NZD)
8. 8Communications Project Manager(116,000 NZD)
9. 9Investor Relations Officer(101,000 NZD)
10. 10Government Relations Officer(90,500 NZD)

Highest Paying Jobs in Procurement

1. 1Supply Chain Director(181,000 NZD)
2. 2Procurement Manager(174,000 NZD)
3. 3Distribution Manager(166,000 NZD)
4. 4Warehouse Manager(152,000 NZD)
5. 5Vendor Manager(137,000 NZD)
6. 6Wholesale Buyer(130,000 NZD)
7. 7Supply Chain Analyst(123,000 NZD)
8. 8Purchasing Supervisor(116,000 NZD)
9. 9Inventory Control Manager(113,000 NZD)
10. 10Demand Planning Manager(109,000 NZD)

Highest Paying Jobs in Quality Control

1. 1Quality Director(159,000 NZD)
2. 2Quality Control Manager(152,000 NZD)
3. 3Quality Assurance Executive(145,000 NZD)
4. 4Six Sigma Black Belt(125,000 NZD)
5. 5Product Quality Leader(114,000 NZD)
6. 6Approval Team Manager(113,000 NZD)
7. 7Quality Assurance Supervisor(110,000 NZD)
8. 8Quality Trainer(107,000 NZD)
9. 9Assistant Quality Manager(104,000 NZD)
10. 10Quality Control Analyst(99,100 NZD)

Highest Paying Jobs in Sales

1. 1Wholesale Manager(210,000 NZD)
2. 2National Sales Manager(203,000 NZD)
3. 3Sales Director(188,000 NZD)
4. 4Sales Executive(174,000 NZD)
5. 5Sales Manager(166,000 NZD)
6. 6National Account Manager(152,000 NZD)
7. 7Head of Direct Sales(145,000 NZD)
8. 8Head of Retail(142,000 NZD)
9. 9Corporate Sales Manager(137,000 NZD)
10. 10Relationship Manager(134,000 NZD)

Highest Paying Jobs in Telecommunications

1. 1Telecommunications Manager(159,000 NZD)
2. 2Sales Director(152,000 NZD)
3. 3Chief Technology Officer(145,000 NZD)
4. 4Telecommunication Service Delivery Manager(121,000 NZD)
5. 5Telecommunication Solution Architect(115,000 NZD)
6. 6Telecommunication Consultant(112,000 NZD)
7. 7Telecommunication Project Manager(109,000 NZD)
8. 8Telecommunications Analyst(107,000 NZD)
9. 9Telecommunication Technical Manager(106,000 NZD)
10. 10Access Operation Team Leader(103,000 NZD)

Salary Comparison By City