Minimum Wage Calculator

From 1 April 2026, the adult minimum wage in New Zealand is $23.95 per hour (before tax). This applies to all employees aged 16 and over who have completed six months with their current employer (or are aged 20 and over from their start date). At 40 hours per week and 52 weeks per year, this equates to a gross annual income of $48,152. The starting-out wage and training wage are set at 80% of the adult rate: $19.16 per hour. The minimum wage is reviewed annually under the Minimum Wage Act 1983, with changes taking effect on 1 April each year. All these wages are before PAYE tax, ACC levy, and any KiwiSaver deductions. Source: Employment New Zealand (employment.govt.nz/hours-and-wages/pay/minimum-wage).

Almost all employees in New Zealand aged 16 and over are entitled to at least the adult minimum wage of $23.95 per hour. The exceptions are: employees aged 16 or 17 (or aged 18-19 with less than six months' service with their current employer) who may be paid the starting-out wage of $19.16 per hour; and employees of any age who are completing a recognised industry training programme (at least 60 credits per year), who may be paid the training minimum wage of $19.16 per hour. Volunteers, certain interns, and people on work-experience programmes may not be covered depending on whether an employment relationship exists. There is no age at which you can legally be paid less than the applicable minimum wage in New Zealand. Source: Employment New Zealand — Who Gets Minimum Wage (employment.govt.nz).

The minimum wage rate ($23.95/hr from 1 April 2026) is the gross hourly rate before tax. Your take-home pay will be lower after PAYE income tax (10.5–39%), ACC earner’s levy (1.75%), KiwiSaver contributions (3.5% if opted in), and any student loan repayments (12% above $24,128). For a 40-hour week at $23.95/hr, gross weekly pay is $958, with approximately $812 net after PAYE and ACC for a single person with no other deductions. Source: Employment NZ, IRD PAYE tables.