A person working as a Drilling Engineer in Cook Islands typically earns around 4,060 NZD per month. Salaries range from 1,870 NZD (lowest) to 6,450 NZD (highest).
This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Drilling Engineer salaries vary drastically based on experience, skills, gender, or location. Below you will find a detailed breakdown based on many different criteria.
Drilling Engineer salaries in Cook Islands range from 1,870 NZD per month (minimum salary) to 6,450 NZD per month (maximum salary).
The median salary is 4,380 NZD per month, which means that half (50%) of people working as Drilling Engineer(s) are earning less than 4,380 NZD while the other half are earning more than 4,380 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 Drilling Engineer(s) are earning less than 2,810 NZD while 75% of them are earning more than 2,810 NZD. Also from the diagram, 75% of Drilling Engineer(s) are earning less than 5,850 NZD while 25% are earning more than 5,850 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 your wage. We broke down Drilling Engineer salaries by experience level and this is what we found.
A Drilling Engineer with less than two years of experience makes approximately 2,120 NZD per month.
While someone with an experience level between two and five years is expected to earn 2,830 NZD per month, 34% more than someone with less than two year's experience.
Moving forward, an experience level between five and ten years lands a salary of 4,180 NZD per month, 48% more than someone with two to five years of experience.
Additionally, Drilling Engineer(s) whose expertise span anywhere between ten and fifteen years get a salary equivalent to 5,100 NZD per month, 22% more than someone with five to ten years of experience.
If the experience level is between fifteen and twenty years, then the expected wage is 5,560 NZD per month, 9% more than someone with ten to fifteen years of experience.
Lastly, employees with more than twenty years of professional experience get a salary of 6,020 NZD per month, 8% more than people with fifteen to twenty years of experience.
0 - 2 Years | 2,120 NZD | |
2 - 5 Years | +34% | 2,830 NZD |
5 - 10 Years | +48% | 4,180 NZD |
10 - 15 Years | +22% | 5,100 NZD |
15 - 20 Years | +9% | 5,560 NZD |
20+ Years | +8% | 6,020 NZD |
We all know that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We broke down Drilling Engineer salaries by education level in order to make a comparison.
When the education level is Certificate or Diploma, the average salary of a Drilling Engineer is 2,420 NZD per month.
While someone with a Bachelor's Degree gets a salary of 3,790 NZD per month, 57% more than someone having a Certificate or Diploma degree.
A Master's Degree gets its holder an average salary of 6,360 NZD per month, 68% more than someone with a Bachelor's Degree.
Certificate or Diploma | 2,420 NZD | |
Bachelor's Degree | +57% | 3,790 NZD |
Master's Degree | +68% | 6,360 NZD |
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 the thoery. The average increase in compensation while changing jobs is approximately 10% more than the customary salary increment.
If you can afford the costs of higher education, 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 Drilling Engineer employees in Cook Islands earn 19% more than their female counterparts on average.
Male | 4,410 NZD | |
Female | -16% | 3,700 NZD |
Drilling Engineer(s) in Cook Islands are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 7% every 29 months. The national average annual increment for all professions combined is 4% granted to employees 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.
A Drilling Engineer is considered to be a low bonus-based job due to the generally limited involvement in direct revenue generation, with exceptions of course. The people who get the highest bonuses are usually somehow involved in the revenue generation cycle.
84% of surveyed staff reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 16% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.
Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 0% to 4% of their annual salary.
Received Bonus | 16% | |
No Bonus | 84% |
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.
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.
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.
The average salary for Drilling Engineer is 2% more than that of Engineering. Also, Engineering salaries are 16% less than those of All Jobs.
Job Title | Average Salary |
Acoustics Engineer | 3,790 NZD | ![]() |
Assembly Engineering Technician | 3,040 NZD | ![]() |
Assistant Chief Engineer | 4,640 NZD | ![]() |
Associate Engineer | 3,530 NZD | ![]() |
Autocad Operator | 2,470 NZD | ![]() |
Automation Engineer | 4,280 NZD | ![]() |
Avionic System Support Engineer | 3,980 NZD | ![]() |
Biochemical Engineer | 3,970 NZD | ![]() |
BMS Engineer | 3,810 NZD | ![]() |
Bridge and Lock Tender | 2,240 NZD | ![]() |
Broadcast Engineer | 4,240 NZD | ![]() |
CAD Design Engineer | 4,100 NZD | ![]() |
CAD Designer | 2,620 NZD | ![]() |
CAE Engineer | 4,120 NZD | ![]() |
Ceramics Engineer | 3,610 NZD | ![]() |
Civil Engineer | 4,300 NZD | ![]() |
Commissioning Engineer | 4,000 NZD | ![]() |
Communications Engineer | 4,460 NZD | ![]() |
Condition Monitoring Engineer | 3,580 NZD | ![]() |
Contract Associate Engineer | 4,040 NZD | ![]() |
Control Systems Engineer | 4,030 NZD | ![]() |
Controls Engineer | 4,000 NZD | ![]() |
Controls Software Engineer | 3,800 NZD | ![]() |
Corrosion Engineer | 3,600 NZD | ![]() |
Design Engineer | 4,050 NZD | ![]() |
Drafter | 2,640 NZD | ![]() |
Drafting Manager | 4,620 NZD | ![]() |
Drilling Engineer | 4,060 NZD | ![]() |
Electrical Draughtsman | 2,180 NZD | ![]() |
Electrical Engineer | 4,360 NZD | ![]() |
Electrical Engineering Manager | 6,010 NZD | ![]() |
Electromechanical Engineering Technologist | 4,270 NZD | ![]() |
Electromechanical Equipment Assembler | 2,190 NZD | ![]() |
Energy Engineer | 4,280 NZD | ![]() |
Engine Assembler | 1,810 NZD | ![]() |
Engineer | 4,200 NZD | ![]() |
Engineering Account Manager | 4,500 NZD | ![]() |
Engineering Chief Designer | 4,760 NZD | ![]() |
Engineering Consultant | 5,470 NZD | ![]() |
Engineering Key Account Manager | 5,930 NZD | ![]() |
Engineering Lab Technician | 3,730 NZD | ![]() |
Engineering Planning Manager | 5,650 NZD | ![]() |
Engineering Production Manager | 7,550 NZD | ![]() |
Engineering Project Analyst | 4,850 NZD | ![]() |
Engineering Project Coordinator | 4,840 NZD | ![]() |
Engineering Project Director | 8,200 NZD | ![]() |
Engineering Project Manager | 5,910 NZD | ![]() |
Engineering Research and Development Manager | 6,480 NZD | ![]() |
Engineering Safety Coordinator | 3,210 NZD | ![]() |
Engineering Sales Manager | 5,530 NZD | ![]() |
Engineering Technician | 3,280 NZD | ![]() |
Engineering Technologist | 3,100 NZD | ![]() |
Environmental Engineer | 4,110 NZD | ![]() |
Equipment Engineer | 3,640 NZD | ![]() |
Equipment Engineering Manager | 5,540 NZD | ![]() |
Estimator | 3,530 NZD | ![]() |
Fabrication Specialist | 3,050 NZD | ![]() |
Fabricator | 1,870 NZD | ![]() |
Facade Engineer | 4,030 NZD | ![]() |
Fiber Analyst | 2,500 NZD | ![]() |
Field Engineer | 4,150 NZD | ![]() |
Field Engineering Manager | 7,110 NZD | ![]() |
Fire Engineer | 4,020 NZD | ![]() |
Fitter and Turner | 1,350 NZD | ![]() |
Forestry Strategic Planner | 4,990 NZD | ![]() |
Generation Engineer | 4,390 NZD | ![]() |
Genetic Engineer | 4,600 NZD | ![]() |
Geological Engineer | 4,420 NZD | ![]() |
Geotechnical Engineer | 4,260 NZD | ![]() |
Heavy Equipment Mechanic | 2,250 NZD | ![]() |
Highway Engineer | 4,200 NZD | ![]() |
HSE Professional | 3,820 NZD | ![]() |
HVAC Engineer | 4,270 NZD | ![]() |
HVAC Supervisor | 3,790 NZD | ![]() |
Industrial Engineer | 4,070 NZD | ![]() |
Industrial Engineering Technologist | 4,130 NZD | ![]() |
Instrument Engineer | 4,100 NZD | ![]() |
Instrumentation and Control Engineer | 4,200 NZD | ![]() |
Instrumentation Engineer | 4,080 NZD | ![]() |
Instrumentation Manager | 4,210 NZD | ![]() |
Irrigation Engineer | 3,910 NZD | ![]() |
Licensed Aircraft Engineer | 4,320 NZD | ![]() |
Locomotive Engineer | 3,970 NZD | ![]() |
Maintenance Engineer | 3,970 NZD | ![]() |
Maintenance Fitter | 1,460 NZD | ![]() |
Maintenance Manager | 4,070 NZD | ![]() |
Manufacturing Engineer | 3,880 NZD | ![]() |
Marine Engineer | 4,260 NZD | ![]() |
Materials Engineer | 3,960 NZD | ![]() |
Materials Researcher | 3,700 NZD | ![]() |
Materials Technician | 2,900 NZD | ![]() |
Mechanical and Electrical Engineer | 4,400 NZD | ![]() |
Mechanical Design Engineer | 4,560 NZD | ![]() |
Mechanical Designer | 3,520 NZD | ![]() |
Mechanical Engineer | 4,520 NZD | ![]() |
Mechanical Engineering Manager | 5,680 NZD | ![]() |
Mechanical Inspector | 4,040 NZD | ![]() |
Mechatronics Engineer | 4,250 NZD | ![]() |
Mining Engineer | 4,230 NZD | ![]() |
Oil and Petrochemical Engineer | 4,420 NZD | ![]() |
Optical Engineer | 4,100 NZD | ![]() |
Optical Instrument Assembler | 2,030 NZD | ![]() |
PCB Assembler | 1,510 NZD | ![]() |
Photonics Engineer | 4,490 NZD | ![]() |
Photonics Technician | 3,850 NZD | ![]() |
Pipeline Engineer | 3,860 NZD | ![]() |
Piping Designer | 2,180 NZD | ![]() |
Piping Engineer | 3,870 NZD | ![]() |
Planning Engineer | 4,150 NZD | ![]() |
Pressure Vessel Inspector | 1,970 NZD | ![]() |
Principal Cost Engineer | 4,060 NZD | ![]() |
Principal Engineer | 4,200 NZD | ![]() |
Principal Support Engineer | 3,990 NZD | ![]() |
Process Engineer | 4,220 NZD | ![]() |
Process Operator | 2,500 NZD | ![]() |
Product Development Engineer | 4,220 NZD | ![]() |
Product Development Technician | 2,910 NZD | ![]() |
Product Engineer | 4,440 NZD | ![]() |
Product Safety Engineer | 3,960 NZD | ![]() |
Production Engineer | 4,080 NZD | ![]() |
Project Engineer | 4,300 NZD | ![]() |
Proposal Manager | 5,550 NZD | ![]() |
Purchasing Engineer | 3,970 NZD | ![]() |
Quality Assurance Engineer | 4,230 NZD | ![]() |
Rail Engineer | 4,100 NZD | ![]() |
Robotics Engineer | 4,490 NZD | ![]() |
Robotics Technician | 3,420 NZD | ![]() |
Safety Engineer | 4,280 NZD | ![]() |
Safety Inspector | 3,200 NZD | ![]() |
Safety Manager | 4,900 NZD | ![]() |
Safety Officer | 2,170 NZD | ![]() |
Sales Engineer | 4,510 NZD | ![]() |
Scheduling Engineer | 3,950 NZD | ![]() |
Service Engineer | 4,410 NZD | ![]() |
Solar Engineer | 4,480 NZD | ![]() |
Staff Engineer | 3,950 NZD | ![]() |
Static Equipment Engineer | 4,060 NZD | ![]() |
Stationary Engineer | 3,680 NZD | ![]() |
Stress Engineer | 3,770 NZD | ![]() |
Structural Analysis Engineer | 4,180 NZD | ![]() |
Structural Designer | 3,470 NZD | ![]() |
Structural Engineer | 3,980 NZD | ![]() |
Structural Technician | 2,750 NZD | ![]() |
Supply Chain Specialist | 3,900 NZD | ![]() |
Surveyor | 3,010 NZD | ![]() |
Technical Affairs Officer | 2,190 NZD | ![]() |
Technical Assistant | 2,090 NZD | ![]() |
Technical Engineer | 3,620 NZD | ![]() |
Technical Support Engineer | 3,580 NZD | ![]() |
Tender Engineer | 3,780 NZD | ![]() |
Test Development Engineer | 4,170 NZD | ![]() |
Transportation Engineer | 3,870 NZD | ![]() |
Validation Engineer | 3,580 NZD | ![]() |
Verification Engineer | 3,790 NZD | ![]() |
Wastewater Engineer | 4,150 NZD | ![]() |
Wind Energy Engineer | 4,120 NZD | ![]() |
Wind Energy Operations Manager | 5,670 NZD | ![]() |
Work Planner | 2,840 NZD | ![]() |
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 |