Whether you're an overseas trained teacher, a New Zealand trained teacher returning home, or you’ve been away from the profession and want to return to teaching, we have the information you need, right here.
Whether you're an overseas trained teacher, a New Zealand trained teacher returning home, or you’ve been away from the profession and want to return to teaching, we have the information you need, right here.
Most teachers are employed on contracts which are directly linked to the salary scales in the relevant Employment Agreement. Refer to the links to Agreements on the right hand side of this page for more information.
The starting salary for a primary school teacher with a Bachelor’s teaching degree is $45,568.
In order to progress up the salary scale the teacher must demonstrate that they have met the applicable professional standard. Each school’s board of trustees (most often delegated to the school principal) must attest that the teacher has met this standard. Teachers can progress up to a maximum rate of $67,413 after seven years’ service.
Schools can also allocate one or more ‘units’ to teachers in management positions or to those with extra responsibilities. Each unit is worth $4,000 and is paid on top of a teacher’s base salary. Higher qualifications, such as a subject or specialist degree held in addition to a teaching qualification, lead to higher starting levels and enable progression to the top of the primary teachers’ salary scale, being $70,877.
The current starting salary for a secondary school teacher with a NQF level 7 subject or specialist qualification (the qualification must have at least 72 credits at level 7) and a teacher education qualification is $47,023.
In order to progress up the salary scale the teacher must demonstrate that they have met the applicable professional standard. Each school’s board of trustees (most often delegated to the school principal) must attest that the teacher has met this standard. Teachers can progress up to a top rate of $71,000 after seven years’ service.
Secondary schools can also allocate ‘units’ to teachers in management positions or to those with extra responsibilities. Each unit is worth $4,000 and is paid on top of a teacher’s base salary. Higher subject or specialist qualifications lead to higher starting salary enabling progression to the top of the scale sooner.
There is a wide variety of early childhood education services and remuneration varies greatly, salaries are either covered by a collective agreement, or they may be negotiated on an individual basis.
New Zealand taxation system
For the latest income tax rates and information on the New Zealand tax system, go to www.ird.govt.nz
GST (Goods and Services Tax) of 15 percent is levied on all goods and services.
Overseas teachers should apply for an IRD number as soon as a job offer is confirmed. If you wait until starting your job, you are likely to be taxed at the non-declaration rate.