A person working in Cook Islands typically earns around 4,710 NZD per month. Salaries range from 1,190 NZD (lowest average) to 21,000 NZD (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).
This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Salaries vary drastically between different careers. If you are interested in the salary of a particular job, see below for salaries for specific job titles.
Salaries in Cook Islands range from 1,190 NZD per month (minimum salary) to 21,000 NZD per month (maximum average salary, actual maximum is higher).
The median salary is 4,800 NZD per month, which means that half (50%) of the population are earning less than 4,800 NZD while the other half are earning more than 4,800 NZD. The median represents the middle salary value. Generally speaking, you would want to be on the right side of the graph with the group earning more than the median salary.
Closely related to the median are two values: the 25th and the 75th percentiles. Reading from the salary distribution diagram, 25% of the population are earning less than 2,700 NZD while 75% of them are earning more than 2,700 NZD. Also from the diagram, 75% of the population are earning less than 13,200 NZD while 25% are earning more than 13,200 NZD.
Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both of the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people are earning more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated. We wrote a guide to explain all about the different scenarios. How to compare your salary
The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally the more years of experience the higher the wage.
Generally speaking, employees having experience from two to five years earn on average 32% more than freshers and juniors across all industries and disciplines.
Professionals with experience of more than five years tend to earn on average 36% more than those with five years or less of work experience.
As you hit the ten years mark, the salary increases by 21% and an additional 14% for those who have crossed the 15 years mark.
Those figures are presented as guidelines only. The numbers become more significant if you consider one job title at a time.
It is well known that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We compared the salaries of professionals at the same level but with different college degrees levels across many jobs, below are our findings.
Workers with a certificate or diploma earn on average 17% more than their peers who only reached the high school level.
Employees who earned a Bachelor's Degree earn 24% more than those who only managed to attain a cerificate or diploma.
Professionals who attained a Master's Degree are awarded salaries that are 29% more than those with a Bachelor's Degree.
Finally, PhD holders earn 23% more than Master's Degree holders on average while doing the same job.
A Master's degree program or any post-graduate program in Cook Islands costs anywhere from 23,500 New Zealand Dollar(s) to 70,600 New Zealand Dollar(s) and lasts approximately two years. That is quite an investment.
You can't really expect any salary increases during the study period, assuming you already have a job. In most cases, a salary review is conducted once education is completed and the degree has been attained.
Many people pursue higher education as a tactic to switch into a higher paying job. The numbers seem to support this tactic. The average increase in compensation while changing jobs is approximately 10% more than the customary salary increment.
The decision really depends on your situation and experience among many other factors. Putting all variables aside, if you can afford the costs of higher education then the return on investment is definitely worth it. You should be able to recover the costs in roughly a year or so.
Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? Male employees in Cook Islands earn 11% more than their female counterparts on avergae across all sectors.
Male | 4,910 NZD | |
Female | -10% | 4,400 NZD |
Employees in Cook Islands are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 4% every 29 months.
The term 'Annual Salary Increase' usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rarely that people get their salaries reviewed exactly on the one year mark, it is more meaningful to know the frequency and the rate at the time of the increase.
The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 ÷ Increase Frequency
Banking | 6% | |
Energy | 3% | |
Information Technology | 9% | |
Healthcare | 6% | |
Travel | 3% | |
Construction | 9% | |
Education | 6% |
Listed above are the average annual increase rates for each industry in Cook Islands for the year 2021. Companies within thriving industries tend to provide higher and more frequent raises. Exceptions do exist, but generally speaking, the situation of any company is closely related to the economic situation in the country or region. These figures tend to change frequently.
Junoir Level | 3% - 5% | |
Mid-Career | 6% - 9% | |
Senior Level | 10% - 15% | |
Top Management | 15% - 20% |
The difference in increment rates is somehow justified because employers put more effort to retain more experienced staff since they are harder to acquire than less experienced ones.
64% of surveyed staff in Cook Islands reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 36% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.
Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 3% to 6% of their annual salary.
Received Bonus | 36% | |
No Bonus | 64% |
The most standard form of bonus where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.
Company Performance BonusesOccasionally, some companies like to celebrate excess earnings and profits with their staff collectively in the form of bonuses that are granted to everyone. The amount of the bonus will probably be different from person to person depending on their role within the organization.
Goal-Based BonusesGranted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.
Holiday / End of Year BonusesThese types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.
People tend to confuse bonuses with commissions. A commission is a prefixed rate at which someone gets paid for items sold or deals completed while a bonus is in most cases arbitrary and unplanned.
Finance | High | |
Architecture | High | |
Sales | High | |
Business Development | High | |
Marketing / Advertising | High | |
Information Technology | Moderate | |
Healthcare | Moderate | |
Insurance | Moderate | |
Customer Service | Moderate | |
Human Resources | Moderate | |
Construction | Low | |
Transport | Low | |
Hospitality | Low |
The main two types of jobs | |
Revenue Generators | Supporting Cast |
Employees that are directly involved in generating revenue or profit for the organization. Their field of expertise usually matches the type of business. | Employees that support and facilitate the work of revenue generators. Their expertise is usually different from that of the core business operations. |
Example: | Example: |
Revenue generators usually get more and higher bonuses, higher salaries, and more frequent salary increments. The reason is quite simple: it is easier to quantify your value to the company in monetary terms when you participate in revenue generation.
Top management personnel and senior employees naturally exhibit higher bonus rates and frequencies than juniors. This is very predictable due to the inherent responsibilities of being higher in the hierarchy. People in top positions can easily get double or triple bonus rates than employees down the pyramid.
Job Title | Average Salary |
Accounting and Finance | |
Accountant | 3,370 NZD |
Accounting Assistant | 2,520 NZD |
Accounting Manager | 7,010 NZD |
Bookkeeper | 2,100 NZD |
Chartered Accountant | 4,090 NZD |
Corporate Treasurer | 6,480 NZD |
Financial Analyst | 6,030 NZD |
Financial Manager | 9,300 NZD |
Internal Auditor | 4,260 NZD |
Administration / Reception / Secretarial | |
Administrative Assistant | 2,480 NZD |
Office Manager | 3,960 NZD |
Receptionist | 1,700 NZD |
Secretary | 2,060 NZD |
Advertising / Grapic Design / Events | |
Art Director | 4,580 NZD |
Creative Director | 4,850 NZD |
Graphic Designer | 2,950 NZD |
Photographer | 2,610 NZD |
Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense | |
Aerospace Engineer | 6,020 NZD |
Air Traffic Controller | 4,920 NZD |
Flight Attendant | 3,140 NZD |
Pilot | 8,290 NZD |
Architecture | |
Architect | 5,800 NZD |
CAD Drafter | 2,480 NZD |
Automotive | |
Mechanic | 1,770 NZD |
Service Advisor | 3,260 NZD |
Banking | |
Bank Branch Manager | 8,370 NZD |
Teller | 1,710 NZD |
Bilingual | |
Teacher | 3,640 NZD |
Translator | 4,090 NZD |
Business Planning | |
Business Analyst | 5,990 NZD |
Business Development Manager | 7,710 NZD |
Project Manager | 5,120 NZD |
Care Giving and Child Care | |
Nanny | 1,960 NZD |
Nursery Teacher | 1,750 NZD |
Construction / Building / Installation | |
Civil Engineer | 4,300 NZD |
Construction Project Manager | 7,620 NZD |
Health and Safety Officer | 2,080 NZD |
Customer Service and Call Center | |
Call Center Representative | 1,680 NZD |
Customer Service Manager | 6,430 NZD |
Customer Service Representative | 1,700 NZD |
Engineering | |
Electrical Engineer | 4,360 NZD |
Engineer | 4,200 NZD |
Mechanical Engineer | 4,520 NZD |
Executive and Management | |
Chief Executive Officer | 10,600 NZD |
Chief Financial Officer | 9,720 NZD |
General Manager | 8,340 NZD |
Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering | |
Chef | 3,020 NZD |
Executive Chef | 3,500 NZD |
Hotel Manager | 8,440 NZD |
Travel Agent | 2,840 NZD |
Waiter / Waitress | 1,490 NZD |
Health and Medical | |
Dentist | 10,800 NZD |
Dietitian | 8,810 NZD |
Laboratory Technician | 3,590 NZD |
Nurse | 3,510 NZD |
Human Resources | |
Human Resources Manager | 6,660 NZD |
Human Resources Officer | 2,670 NZD |
Information Technology | |
Computer Technician | 3,730 NZD |
Database Administrator | 4,670 NZD |
Developer / Programmer | 4,470 NZD |
Information Technology Manager | 7,760 NZD |
Network Engineer | 4,000 NZD |
Law Enforcement / Security / Fire | |
Police Officer | 2,670 NZD |
Legal | |
Attorney | 9,220 NZD |
Legal Assistant | 2,360 NZD |
Media / Broadcasting / Arts / Entertainment | |
Journalist | 5,240 NZD |
Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology | |
Biomedical Engineer | 4,090 NZD |
Pharmacist | 5,910 NZD |
Sales Retail and Wholesale | |
Cashier | 1,700 NZD |
Sales Manager | 8,240 NZD |
Sales Representative | 2,960 NZD |
Teaching / Education | |
Elementary School Teacher | 3,090 NZD |
Secondary School Teacher | 3,950 NZD |
The hourly wage is the salary paid in one worked hour. Usually jobs are classified into two categories: salaried jobs and hourly jobs. Salaried jobs pay a fix amount regardless of the hours worked. Hourly jobs pay per worked hour. To convert salary into hourly wage the above formula is used (assuming 5 working days in a week and 8 working hours per day which is the standard for most jobs). The hourly wage calculation may differ slightly depending on the worked hours per week and the annual vacation allowance. The figures mentioned above are good approximations and are considered to be the standard. One major difference between salaried employees and hourly paid employees is overtime eligibility. Salaried employees are usually exempt from overtime as opposed to hourly paid staff.
Where can you get paid more, working for a private company or for the government? Public sector employees in Cook Islands earn 14% more than their private sector counterparts on average across all sectors.
Private Sector | 4,330 NZD | |
Public Sector | +14% | 4,950 NZD |