Minimum Wage NZ 2026
The current New Zealand minimum wage rates, what they add up to each week and year, and what is left after PAYE, ACC, KiwiSaver and student loan deductions.
Current minimum wage rates
Rates in force from 1 April 2025, before tax. Reviewed every year.
Adult
$23.50
16 and over, most employees
Starting-out
$18.80
80% of the adult rate
Training
$18.80
80% of the adult rate
Always confirm the rate in force with Employment New Zealand.
Minimum wage take-home calculator
Enter your rate and hours to see the weekly and annual figures.
Gross a year
$48,880
Take-home a week
$752.60
$1,505.20 a fortnight
Gross a week
$940.00
- PAYE (income tax)
- $7,462 a year
- ACC earner levy
- $816 a year
- KiwiSaver
- $1,466 a year
- Student loan
- $0 a year
Minimum wage by hours worked
On the $23.50 adult rate across 52 weeks, with 3% KiwiSaver and no student loan.
| Hours / week | Gross a week | Gross a year | Take-home a week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | $470.00 | $24,440 | $386.80 |
| 30 | $705.00 | $36,660 | $569.70 |
| 37.5 | $881.25 | $45,825 | $706.88 |
| 40 | $940.00 | $48,880 | $752.60 |
Your rights on the minimum wage
The minimum wage applies to every hour you work, however you are paid. Piece rates, commission and salaries all have to average out to at least the minimum wage in each pay period, and time spent on required training or opening up counts as work. It cannot be reduced by deductions for uniforms or tools without your written agreement.
If you are moving above the minimum wage, the pay rise calculator shows how much of the increase you keep. To see how the legal floor compares with the voluntary living wage, or to convert your rate into an annual salary with the hourly to salary calculator, start there.
Minimum wage questions, answered
What is the minimum wage in New Zealand?
The adult minimum wage is $23.50 an hour before tax, in force from 1 April 2025. The starting-out and training minimum wages are $18.80 an hour, which is 80% of the adult rate. Rates are reviewed every year and take effect on 1 April.
How much is the minimum wage a year?
On the $23.50 adult rate, 40 hours a week over 52 weeks is $48,880 gross a year. On 37.5 hours it is $45,825, and on 30 hours it is $36,660. Take-home pay is lower once PAYE, the ACC earner levy, KiwiSaver and any student loan repayment are deducted.
Who can be paid the starting-out or training minimum wage?
The starting-out rate can apply to some 16 and 17 year olds in their first six months with an employer, 18 and 19 year olds who have been on certain benefits, and 16 to 19 year olds in an approved training programme of at least 40 credits a year. The training rate applies to employees aged 20 and over doing at least 60 credits a year of approved industry training.
Is the minimum wage the same as the living wage?
No. The minimum wage is the legal pay floor set by the Government. The living wage is a voluntary, independently calculated rate that accredited employers choose to pay, and it is always higher.
Does the minimum wage apply to salaried employees?
Yes. If your salary divided by the hours you actually work falls below the minimum wage for any pay period, your employer is breaching the Minimum Wage Act. Long unpaid hours are the usual cause.
Do minimum wage earners pay tax in New Zealand?
Yes. There is no tax-free threshold here, so PAYE applies from the first dollar at 10.5%, plus the ACC earner levy. KiwiSaver and student loan deductions apply if they are relevant to you.
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.
- Living Wage NZThe living wage rate versus the minimum wage, side by side.
- Hourly to Salary ConverterConvert an hourly rate to an annual salary and back again.
- After-Tax Pay CalculatorTurn a gross salary into weekly, fortnightly and monthly take-home pay.
- Pay Rise CalculatorSee exactly how much of a pay rise you keep after every deduction.