Recently, from 9 March 2026, the immigration median wage increased to $35/hr. This median wage is a requirement for many visa opportunities across New Zealand. Suppose if you received a job with a yearly package instead of hourly rate, here is the calculator that give you the corresponding hourly rate from yearly salary. Use this tool to see if your package qualifies for residency and family sponsorship.
Calculated Rate
$48.08/hr
Threshold
$35.00
✅ ELIGIBLE for Median Wage Pathways
KiwiSaver (Employee)
Deducted from gross pay
The New Zealand Government has updated the immigration median wage to $35.00 per hour, effective March 2026. This hourly rate is the new standard for Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) residency and Green List Visa applications.
Migrant workers earning below this median wage rate may face restrictions on their ability to support partner work visas or qualify for the 5-year maximum stay in certain ANZSCO level 4-5 roles.