If you’re on the hunt for a bigger pay packet, it helps to know where the big bucks are. We’ve looked at the top 20 highest-paying roles on SEEK in 2018 versus 2013 and compared the average salary data for all industries over this five-year period. So, which role topped the list this year and which industries are paying the most?

IT managers lead the way

While the highest-paid job on SEEK in 2013 was Mining - Exploration & Geoscience ($142,228), it has now been replaced by Information & Communication Technology Management ($128,006).

Megan Alexander, Managing Director of Robert Half New Zealand, says that although mining exploration roles tend to be well paid, the industry is relatively small in New Zealand and she is not surprised to see Information & Communication Technology (ICT) roles now dominating the highest-paid job list.

“Companies have realised that we are well and truly in the Information Age and that they need to get onboard,” she says. Alexander adds that companies are now making significant investments in IT infrastructure and that high-quality IT managers are vital to ensuring successful implementation.”

Click the tabs below to compare the highest-paying jobs in 2018 versus 2013:



View 2013

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Rank Industry Role type 2013 salary 1 Mining, Resources & Energy Mining - Exploration & Geoscience $142,228 2 Mining, Resources & Energy Oil & Gas - Drilling $133,073 3 Health & Medical Mining - Engineering Maintenance $132,407 4 Mining, Resources & Energy Mining - Engineering & Maintenance $127,913 5 Mining, Resources & Energy Management $123,933 6 Information & Communication Technology Architects $122,322 7 Insurance & Superannuation Management $117,023 8 Mining, Resources & Energy Oil & Gas - Production & Refinement $116,944 9 Consulting & Strategy Management & Change Consulting $116,614 10 Enginnering Management $116,146 11 Accounting Financial Managers & Controllers $115,756 12 Information & Communication Technology Management $115,173 13 Banking & Financial Services Banking – Corporate & Institutional $114,905 14 Banking & Financial Services Management $110,203 15 Mining, Resources & Energy Surveying $109,423 16 Real Estate & Property Retail & Property Development $108,919 17 Information & Communication Technology Consultants $108,492 18 Human Resources & Recruitment Management – Internal $106,346 19 Marketing & Communications Management $105,595 20 Information & Communication Technology Sales – Pre & Post $105,415 Source: SEEK Salary Report, July 2012 - June 2013 vs July 2011 - June 2012 Rank Industry Role type 2018 salary 1 Information & Communication Technology Management $128,006 2 Information & Communication Technology Architects $127,687 3 Insurance & Superannuation Management $123,765 4 Mining, Resources & Energy Management $122,851 5 Real Estate & Property Retail & Property Development $122,500 6 Accounting Financial Managers & Controllers $120,561 7 Mining, Resources & Energy Oil & Gas - Engineering & Maintenance $117,960 8 Banking & Financial Services Corporate Finance & Investment Banking $117,199 9 Engineering Management $115,171 10 Construction Management $114,933 11 Construction Project Management $114,319 12 Banking & financial Services Treasury $114,204 13 Human Resources & Recruitment Management - Internal $113,213 14 Accounting Management $113,079 15 Information & Communication Technology Consultants $112,600 16 Banking & Financial Services Management $111,495 17 Consulting & Strategy Management & Change Consulting $111,495 18 Legal Banking & Finance Law $111,444 19 Legal Tax Law $111,093 20 Banking & Financial Services Banking - Corporate & Institutional $110,877 Source: SEEK Salary Report, July 2017 - June 2018 vs July 2016 - June 2017

Construction boom creates unprecedented demand

Management roles in the construction industry are now among the highest paid in New Zealand, however they did not make SEEK’s top 20 list in 2013. Construction management now comes in at number 12 ($114,933) and project management is at number 13 ($114,319)

Callum Massie, Manager, Michael Page New Zealand, says the construction boom has created unprecedented demand for talent in New Zealand. “This has a direct correlation with the growth we have seen in salaries,” he says. “With growth across all sectors, construction companies are heavily focused on attracting and retaining top talent in the industry in order to deliver projects to a high level, as well as helping secure future work.”

Trends across in industries

While the highest-paying jobs in 2013 commanded a greater salary than those today, the good news for candidates is that the average salary across all industries has grown from $72,946 five years ago to $ $77,18494 in 2018.

Data from New Zealand’s Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment estimates demand for construction-related occupations will increase by 11% between 2016 and 2022.

Construction was the highest-paying industry this year ($101,633) with salaries growing by 20.5% compared to 2013 ($84,321).

Data from New Zealand’s Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment estimates demand for construction-related occupations will increase by 11% between 2016 and 2022 and Massie expects this growth to impact salaries. “The demand is driving up salaries as candidates have much more choice when it comes to selecting their next employer,” he says.

The related field of Trades & Services also saw an 11.7% lift in salaries, growing from $54,682 in 2013 to $61,091 today.

Meanwhile, salaries the Real Estate & Property industry grew by 7.1% from $78,890 in 2013 to $84,540 in 2018. Massie notes the rise in property developments across New Zealand may be having an impact. “Since 2013, we have seen significant growth within retail and social developments and the industry requires passionate and skilled property development experts who can project manage, negotiate and help plan New Zealand’s future.”

Scroll through the table below to reveal average industry salaries in New Zealand