22 of the highest paying trades in NZ: salary & career guide
Skilled tradespeople help build and maintain New Zealand’s homes, infrastructure and workplaces. Te Waihanga, the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, estimates the country will need about 35,000 more full-time infrastructure workers by 2035, for a total of around 130,000.
Many trade careers begin with an apprenticeship, earning a wage while they learn the job from more experienced tradies. Today’s apprentices come from every gender, age, culture and background, too. Women make up 17% of them, according to Education Counts.
We’ve ranked the highest-paying trades in New Zealand below to help you find your place among them, along with what affects your pay, how to pick a trade, how long it takes to qualify and the steps to get started. Once you’ve chosen a trade, explore its training options and entry requirements to plan your next step.
How much do tradies earn in NZ? Ranked by earning potential
Aircraft maintenance engineers top our list of the highest-paying trades in NZ with a salary range of $83,000 to $144,000 per year according to Tahatū, the NZ Government’s career planning service. You can earn a solid tradie salary in NZ in many professions, though, so you can choose the one that most closely aligns with your interests. We’ve listed the most common entry pathway for each one in the last column so you know what it takes to get started.
Our salary figures come from five sources, each with its own way of collecting data. Tahatū publishes a pay band for each occupation, including the most common pay range for people working that job. SEEK bases its figures on the salary ranges employers include in their job ads, which tend to skew towards experienced hires.
PayScale collects salaries that workers report themselves and has only a handful of responses for some trades, which makes those figures more of a rough guide. Indeed combines the salaries its users report with figures from job ads, while Glassdoor relies on pay details that employees submit anonymously. Some of these sites don’t publish data for every trade, which is why a few rows list fewer figures than others.
Here’s how the best-paid trades in NZ compare and how you can get started in each one:
Trade | Indicative annual pay (NZD) | Entry pathway |
Aircraft maintenance engineer | Tahatū: $83,000 to $144,000 SEEK: $115,000 to $125,000 PayScale: $71,000 to $120,000 Glassdoor: $80,000 to $114,000 | On-the-job training and a Civil Aviation Authority aircraft maintenance engineer licence |
Line mechanic | Tahatū: $81,000 to $129,000 PayScale: $80,000 Glassdoor: $71,000 to $80,000 | Apprenticeship and Electrical Workers Registration Board registration |
Crane operator | Tahatū: $72,000 to $121,000 PayScale: $51,000 to $73,000 | Class 4 driver licence and the NZ Certificate in Cranes |
Diesel mechanic | Tahatū: $70,000 to $113,000 SEEK: $90,000 to $110,000 PayScale: $59,000 to $81,000 Indeed: $61,920 | Apprenticeship and a heavy vehicle driver licence |
Fitter and turner | Tahatū: $69,000 to $113,000 SEEK: $74,930 to $97,520 PayScale: $105,000 Indeed: $69,295 Glassdoor: $74,000 to $133,000 | Apprenticeship |
Boilermaker | Tahatū: $72,000 to $109,000 SEEK: $75,000 to $85,000 PayScale: $65,660 Indeed: $58,694 | On-the-job training and welding certifications |
Electrician | Tahatū: $66,000 to $107,000 SEEK: $80,000 to $90,000 PayScale: $51,000 to $102,000 Indeed: $61,630 | |
Gasfitter | Tahatū: $68,000 to $103,000 PayScale: $85,500 | Certificate in Plumbing, Gasfitting and Drainlaying (Level 3) |
Telecommunications technician | Tahatū: $63,000 to $103,000 SEEK: $62,850 to $85,290 PayScale: $57,108 Indeed: $58,085 Glassdoor: $50,000 to $70,000 | On-the-job training and Electrical Workers Registration Board registration |
Heavy equipment operator or excavator operator | Tahatū: $66,000 to $100,000 SEEK: $75,000 to $80,000 PayScale: $48,300 Indeed: $58,620 | |
Drainlayer | Tahatū: $64,000 to $98,000 PayScale: $78,000 Indeed: $68,897 | Certificate in Plumbing, Gasfitting and Drainlaying (Level 3) |
Refrigeration and air conditioning technician | Tahatū: $60,000 to $99,000 SEEK: $100,000 to $105,000 PayScale: $89,320 Indeed: $66,879 | Apprenticeship plus electrical and refrigerant handling licences |
Welder | Tahatū: $62,000 to $97,000 SEEK: $60,730 to $78,570 PayScale: $60,000 Indeed: $51,248 | On-the-job training and welding certifications |
Plumber | Tahatū: $56,000 to $91,000 SEEK: $75,000 to $85,000 PayScale: $59,000 to $81,000 Indeed: $56,641 | Certificate in Plumbing, Gasfitting and Drainlaying (Level 3) |
Concreter | Tahatū: $56,000 to $87,000 PayScale: $58,500 Indeed: $72,798 | On-the-job training |
Automotive technician | Tahatū: $58,000 to $85,000 SEEK: $70,000 to $80,000 PayScale: $54,000 to $99,000 Indeed: $62,235 | Apprenticeship |
Carpenter | Tahatū: $52,000 to $84,000 SEEK: $80,000 to $95,000 PayScale: $54,000 to $86,000 Indeed: $62,887 | |
Roofer | Tahatū: $52,000 to $84,000 PayScale: $65,000 to $100,000 Indeed: $54,756 | On-the-job training |
Glazier | Tahatū: $56,000 to $80,000 SEEK: $62,640 to $82,780 PayScale: $62,000 Indeed: $63,569 | On-the-job training |
Joiner | Tahatū: $61,000 to $74,000 SEEK: $56,730 to $76,730 PayScale: $57,038 Indeed: $66,321 | Apprenticeship |
Tiler | Tahatū: $53,000 to $84,000 PayScale: $54,000 to $76,000 Indeed: $47,900 | On-the-job training |
Plasterer | Tahatū: $51,000 to $80,000 PayScale: $52,000 to $93,000 Indeed: $47,900 | Certificate in Trade Skills (Paint and Plaster strand) (Level 3) |
*Salary figures are indicative ranges sourced from SEEK NZ, PayScale NZ, Indeed NZ, Glassdoor NZ and Tahatū, accessed October 2026. These figures are updated regularly. Actual earnings vary by experience, employer, region and hours worked. Tahatū figures show the most common pay band for each trade.
What affects a tradie salary in NZ?
Two electricians with the same qualification can earn very different amounts. One might work standard hours for a residential builder in a small town, while the other picks up call-outs and overtime work on commercial jobs in a busy city. The ranges in the salary table above are so wide exactly for that reason. You can influence most of the things that affect your tradie salary in NZ over the course of your career.
Here’s a closer look at the factors behind how much tradies earn in NZ:
Factor | How it can affect your pay | Example |
Experience | Employers hand experienced tradies the complex jobs and supervisory roles with higher pay. | Tahatū puts the lower end of electrician pay at $50,000 and the upper end at $133,000. |
Qualifications and licensing | Licensed tradies can legally take on work that unlicensed workers can’t. | Plumbers need a Certifying licence from the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board to work without supervision and supervise other plumbers. |
Specialisation | Tradies with specialist skills can take on niche work with less competition. | An electrician who trains in solar or industrial automation. |
Location and demand | Tradies in high-demand areas or near major projects can often charge more. | Indeed NZ shows Tauranga carpenters average $47.43 an hour, compared to $31.76 nationally. |
Employer and industry | Residential, commercial, infrastructure and specialist employers each set their own rates. | A carpenter on a large commercial build may earn more than one who frames houses for a small residential builder. |
Hours and working conditions | Employers usually pay more for overtime, night shifts, weekend work and call-outs. | A plumber who answers after-hours emergency call-outs. |
Working for yourself | Self-employed tradies set their own rates and keep the profit. They also cover their own costs and ride out the quiet weeks. | Stats NZ counts 60,300 self-employed construction workers and another 31,600 who employ staff. |
What is the best trade to get into in NZ? How to choose the right path
A strong salary is a great reason to pick a trade, but it’s not the only reason. You’ll want a trade that you can see yourself doing for many decades if you want longevity in the industry, which is different for everyone. Some tradies love being outdoors on a different site each week. Others would happily spend all day tracing a fault through a switchboard. Think about what you want your working week to look like, then use the table below to find the best trade to get into in NZ for you.
Here’s how to match a trade to what you want from your career:
If you’re looking for… | Trades to explore | Why |
Strong earning potential | Aircraft maintenance engineering, line mechanics, electrical and gasfitting | You’ll find these trades at the top of the salary table above. |
Historical employment growth | Electrical, plumbing, carpentry, drainlaying and refrigeration | Tahatū rates employment as increasing for each of these trades between the 2018 and 2023 Censuses. |
Opportunities to work outdoors | Carpentry, painting, plumbing and civil infrastructure | You’ll spend much of your week on construction sites, scaffolding, roofs and roadworks, in every kind of weather. |
Technical problem-solving | Electrical, plumbing, gasfitting and refrigeration | You’ll trace faults and work with systems that have to meet strict safety standards. |
Variety | Carpentry, plumbing, electrical and painting | You’ll work on a different site with a different client every few days or weeks. |
A pathway to running a business | Plumbing, carpentry, electrical and painting | Qualified tradies in these trades can go out on their own once they’ve gained experience and any licence their trade requires. |
How to get started in a trade career in New Zealand
The path to trades in NZ looks much the same in most trades. You’ll need to meet the entry requirements, complete a pre-trade course, land an apprenticeship and work towards full qualification and licensing.
Step 1: Complete NCEA requirements
Tahatū lists NCEA Level 2 as the usual starting point for trades like electrical, plumbing, carpentry and painting. We set different entry requirements for each of our courses. For example, Electrical applicants need NCEA Level 1 with maths and English, or an assessment that shows the same skills. Plumbing applicants need a Level 2 qualification or a pass in our placement test. Maths and English still matter in every trade, since you’ll measure, calculate, quote and read technical documents each day.
Step 2: Choose a pre-trade qualification
Our tutors will teach you the practical skills and safety knowledge employers look for in a new apprentice. You’ll spend much of your time on the tools at our Trades South campus in Mount Wellington, Auckland (Tāmaki Makaurau). Our plumbing course develops practical skills in pipework, drainlaying, water supply and waste systems.
We teach four Level 3 pre-trade courses:
Certificate in Electrical Engineering (Level 3): Our tutors cover electrical theory, workplace safety, legislation and wiring diagrams over 35 weeks of blended study on campus and online.
Certificate in Carpentry Trade Skills (Level 3): Carpentry students build a prefabricated timber sleepout on campus over 32 weeks of hands-on training.
Certificate in Plumbing, Gasfitting and Drainlaying (Level 3): We fit pipework, drainlaying, water supply and waste systems into 18 weeks of blended study.
Certificate in Trade Skills (Paint and Plaster strand) (Level 3): Painting and plastering students spend 19 weeks in the workshop, where they learn to apply coatings and finishes to industry standard.
Step 3: Secure an apprenticeship
An apprenticeship is a paid job where you learn on site under a qualified tradesperson while you work towards your trade qualification. You can approach a local business directly or find a group training scheme, which employs apprentices in some trades and places them with a host business.
Bring your pre-trade certificate and photos of your course projects to every meeting so the person can see the skills you already have. Whoever takes you on must pay you at least the $19.16 an hour training minimum wage if you’re 20 or over and your employment agreement requires at least 60 credits of training a year.
Step 4: Gain on-the-job experience
You’ll learn most of your trade on live jobs next to experienced tradies who can check your work and give you more responsibility as you learn. How long this takes depends on your trade. For example, carpentry apprentices usually need 3 to 4 years to qualify, according to Tahatū. Electricians need four years, or 8,000 hours, of supervised practical experience before they can register with the Electrical Workers Registration Board (EWRB).
Step 5: Become qualified and licensed
You’ll finish your apprenticeship with a qualification. Some trades also require registration and a practising licence before you can work unsupervised. Your earnings will depend on factors such as experience, specialisation, employer and location.
Here’s what you’ll need in some of the most common trades:
Electricians: Register with the EWRB, then hold a practising licence that you renew every two years.
Plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers: Register and hold a licence with the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (PGDB), which you’ll renew every year. Aim for a Certifying licence if you’d like to work for yourself one day.
Builders and carpenters: Apply for a Carpentry licence through the Licensed Building Practitioners scheme to carry out or supervise restricted building work on homes.
Painters and plasterers: You can generally work without a licence. External plastering that counts as restricted building work is the exception, as you’ll need an LBP licence in external plastering for that.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest paying trade in NZ?
Aircraft maintenance engineers have the highest upper pay figure of any trade in New Zealand compared here. Their most common pay band on Tahatū is $83,000 to $144,000 a year. Line mechanics earn the next highest pay at $81,000 to $129,000. You’ll need a Civil Aviation Authority licence for aircraft maintenance or EWRB registration as a line mechanic.
How much do tradies earn NZ each year?
Tradies in NZ typically earn between $50,000 and $144,000 a year, based on the most common pay bands from Tahatū. You can climb towards the top of that range as you gain experience, specialise, earn a licence or start working for yourself.
What is the best trade to get into NZ?
The best trade for you depends on your interests, preferred working conditions and training goals. Electrical, plumbing, carpentry and drainlaying are all strong choices, as Tahatū shows employment increased between the 2018 and 2023 censuses in all four trades. Pick one that you can see yourself doing 10, 25 or even 40 years down the line, as experience can significantly affect how much you earn.
Do I need qualifications to become a tradie in New Zealand?
Yes, for the regulated trades. Electricians, plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers must register and maintain a licence before they can work without supervision. Builders carrying out restricted building work must hold the appropriate LBP licence or work under an appropriately licensed building practitioner’s supervision. Painters and interior plasterers can work without a licence and learn their trade through an apprenticeship.
What qualifications do I need before an apprenticeship?
NCEA Level 2 is the usual requirement for a trade apprenticeship. You can also complete one of our Level 3 pre-trade courses first, where you’ll learn to work safely on site and use the tools of your trade.
Can mature-age students become tradies?
Yes. Education Counts reports that 57% of NZ apprentices were aged 25 or older in 2025, and 15% were 40 or older. You can start one of our pre-trade courses at any age and work towards an apprenticeship from there.
How long does it take to become qualified as a tradie?
You’ll usually need around three to four years to qualify in a trade like carpentry or plumbing. You can complete one of our pre-trade courses first, which lasts from 18 to 35 weeks depending on the trade.
Ready to start your trade career?
Every qualified sparky, plumber, builder and painter in NZ started where you are now, with plenty of questions and not a lot of experience on the tools. You’ve now seen what each trade pays in New Zealand and how to get started on the trade that interests you the most. A pre-trade course is the natural next step, where you’ll practise the core skills of your trade and learn the safety rules you’ll follow on every job site before you look for an apprenticeship.
We teach Level 3 pre-trade courses in electrical work, carpentry, plumbing and painting at our Trades South campus in Mount Wellington, Auckland (Tāmaki Makaurau). Explore our trades courses and talk to our team about which one suits you.