New Zealand calculator
Gross Pay Calculator NZ
Most calculators go from gross to net. This one works backwards: enter the take-home pay you need in the hand and it solves for the gross salary required before PAYE, the ACC earners' levy, KiwiSaver and student loan deductions.
Last reviewed by NZ Calculator:
How do I calculate gross pay from net pay in NZ?
You cannot simply add a tax percentage back on, because New Zealand tax is progressive. The gross figure has to be solved for: pick a gross amount, deduct PAYE, ACC and any KiwiSaver or student loan, then adjust until the net result matches your target take-home pay. This calculator does that search for you.
Your take-home pay
Your gross pay estimate
Annual estimate on a primary tax code. Payroll systems calculate PAYE per pay period, so the figures on a payslip can differ slightly.
Why gross pay is harder to work out than net pay
Going from gross to net is a single pass: apply the tax brackets, take off the levies, done. Going the other way is a reverse calculation, because the tax you owe depends on the gross figure you are trying to find. This calculator narrows in on the answer numerically until the take-home result matches what you entered.
When you need a gross figure
- Negotiating a salary when you know the take-home pay you need to cover your outgoings
- Writing a job advertisement where candidates have quoted an in-the-hand number
- Checking whether a pay rise actually delivers the after-tax increase you expected
- Comparing a contract rate against a salaried role
What affects the gap between gross and net
Four things move the gap: your marginal tax bracket, the ACC earners' levy, your KiwiSaver contribution rate and any student loan repayment. KiwiSaver in particular is not tax — it is your money going to your own account — so a bigger gap is not always a worse deal.
NZ sources: Inland Revenue — tax rates for individuals · Employment New Zealand — pay and wages.
Frequently asked questions
How do I work out gross pay from net pay in New Zealand?
Because tax is progressive, the gross figure has to be solved for rather than calculated directly. Enter your take-home pay and pay frequency and the calculator searches for the gross salary that produces that net result after PAYE, ACC and any KiwiSaver or student loan deductions.
What is the difference between gross pay and net pay?
Gross pay is your total pay before any deductions. Net pay, or take-home pay, is what lands in your bank account after PAYE, the ACC earners' levy, KiwiSaver and student loan repayments.
Does gross pay include KiwiSaver?
Your own KiwiSaver contribution comes out of your gross pay, so it reduces your take-home pay. Employer contributions are paid on top of your gross salary and are taxed separately through ESCT.
Is the ACC levy taken out of gross pay?
Yes. For salary and wage earners the ACC earners' levy is deducted alongside PAYE, at a flat rate on income up to an annual cap.
Can I use this to convert an hourly rate to a salary?
Enter your take-home pay and the hours you work each week. The calculator returns the gross annual salary and the equivalent gross hourly rate.
Why does my payslip show a different gross figure?
Payroll uses per-period PAYE tables, your exact tax code, part-year income and rounding. This calculator gives an annual estimate on a primary tax code.
Does this include Working for Families or tax credits?
No. Working for Families, the independent earner tax credit and other entitlements are not modelled. Check Inland Revenue for those.