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Payrise NZ

Job Offer Comparison Calculator NZ

Starting out, or weighing up a new job? Put up to four offers side by side — salary or hourly — and see what each one really pays after tax, plus the employer KiwiSaver on top.

Side-by-side results

Job B pays the most take-home pay — $978 a week.

Per yearJob AJob B
Base pay$65,000$66,560
Overtime$0$0
Allowances$0$0
Gross pay$65,000$66,560
PAYE-$11,721-$12,189
ACC levy-$1,138-$1,165
Your KiwiSaver-$2,275-$2,330
Student loan-$0-$0
Take-home (year)$49,867$50,877
Take-home (week)$959$978
Take-home (fortnight)$1,918$1,957
Employer KiwiSaver$2,275$2,330
Total package$67,275$68,890
Take-home per hour worked$23.97$24.46

Employer KiwiSaver is shown before ESCT and worked out on base pay. Many employers also pay it on overtime — ask yours.

Looking past the headline number

A job offer is more than its salary. Two offers $5,000 apart can end up only a few dollars a week apart once PAYE, ACC and KiwiSaver are taken out — and the cheaper-looking job can win if it pays overtime or a regular allowance.

  • Check the hours. A salary that expects 45 hours a week is worth less per hour than the same salary at 40. The "take-home per hour" row shows this.
  • Ask if KiwiSaver is on top. A "total remuneration" offer that includes employer KiwiSaver has a lower base salary than it first looks.
  • Only count guaranteed extras. Put in overtime and allowances you can rely on most weeks, not best-case figures.
  • Starting out? Check any hourly offer is at least the adult minimum wage of $23.95, and compare it with the Living Wage.

Once you've picked an offer, the pay rise guide helps you plan your first pay review.

Frequently asked questions

How do I compare a salary job with an hourly job in NZ?

Convert both to the same yearly figure first. An hourly job is your rate times your usual weekly hours times 52, plus any regular overtime and allowances. Then compare what each pays after PAYE, ACC, KiwiSaver and any student loan — that take-home figure is what reaches your bank account.

Is a higher salary always the better offer?

Not always. A lower salary with paid overtime, a regular allowance or an employer who contributes more than the 3.5% KiwiSaver minimum can be worth more overall. Hours matter too: dividing take-home pay by the hours you actually work shows what each hour is really worth.

Does employer KiwiSaver count as part of my pay?

It is part of your total package, but it does not reach your bank account. Employers must contribute at least 3.5% of gross pay for eligible employees, and some offers include it inside a 'total remuneration' figure, which makes the base salary lower. Always ask whether KiwiSaver is on top of, or included in, the number offered.

Are allowances and overtime taxed?

Yes. Most cash allowances and all overtime are taxed as ordinary income through PAYE, and KiwiSaver and student loan deductions also apply. Some reimbursing allowances, such as genuine mileage repayments, can be tax-free — check with the employer how theirs is treated.

What should I ask before accepting a job offer?

Confirm the base pay and whether it is hourly or salaried, the usual hours, how overtime is paid, which allowances are guaranteed, the employer's KiwiSaver rate, and when the first pay review happens. Those answers are what you need to fill in this calculator accurately.

How we calculate this

This page converts each job offer into a yearly gross figure, then works out PAYE, ACC, KiwiSaver and student loan at 2026/27 rates. Every figure on this page is worked out in your browser from the rates listed below — nothing you type is sent anywhere or stored.

  1. 1Hourly offers: rate × usual weekly hours × 52.
  2. 2Overtime: overtime hours × hourly rate × the overtime multiplier × 52.
  3. 3Allowances: weekly amount × 52, taxed as ordinary income.
  4. 4Deductions use current PAYE brackets, the 1.75% ACC levy up to its cap, your KiwiSaver rate and 12% student loan above the threshold.
  5. 5Employer KiwiSaver is added to show the total package; it is not part of take-home pay.

Rates and thresholds in use

  • Income tax bands: $0–$15,600 at 10.50%; $15,600–$53,500 at 17.50%; $53,500–$78,100 at 30.00%; $78,100–$180,000 at 33.00%; over $180,000 at 39.00%.
  • ACC earners' levy: 1.75% of liable earnings.
  • Student loan: 12% of every dollar earned above $24,128 a year.
  • KiwiSaver employee rates: 3.5% by default, or 4%, 6%, 8% or 10% of gross pay; a temporary reduction to 3% is available.

Last reviewed October 2026 by the Payrise NZ team. We re-check these settings whenever Inland Revenue, MBIE or ACC announce a change, and update this page the same week.

Sources: Inland Revenue — income tax rates.

Related NZ pay and tax calculators

Keep going with the rest of the toolkit — each one uses the same up-to-date New Zealand tax settings.