What do finance graduates earn in New Zealand?
Graduate accountants in New Zealand start on $65,000–$80,000 base in Auckland and $60,000–$75,000 in Wellington (Robert Walters, 2026). Advertised entry roles include auditors at $65,000–$70,000 and assistant accountants at $75,000–$85,000 (SEEK, October 2026).
Sources: Robert Walters Salary Guide 2026: Australia & New Zealand, SEEK: Auditor salary in NZ (October 2026), SEEK: Assistant Accountant salary in NZ (October 2026). Figures checked 18 October 2026.
| Role / level | Salary range | Basis | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate accountant | $65,000–$80,000 | Base, Auckland | [1] |
| Graduate accountant | $60,000–$75,000 | Base, Wellington | [1] |
| Assistant / junior accountant | $75,000–$85,000 | Advertised, national | [2] |
| Auditor | $65,000–$70,000 | Advertised, national | [3] |
| Bank customer service representative | $68,000 | Advertised midpoint, all banks | [4] |
| Financial adviser, under 1 year | $55,010 | Self-reported, national average (14 responses) | [5] |
Sources
- [1] Robert Walters Salary Guide 2026: Australia & New Zealand, published February 2026. Checked 2026-10-18. Permanent base salaries, excluding benefits and bonuses.
- [2] SEEK: Assistant Accountant salary in NZ (October 2026), published October 2026. Checked 2026-10-18. Advertised salaries in SEEK job ads; range is the middle 50% (25th–75th percentile).
- [3] SEEK: Auditor salary in NZ (October 2026), published October 2026. Checked 2026-10-18. Advertised salaries in SEEK job ads; range is the middle 50% (25th–75th percentile).
- [4] whatsthesalary.com: Banking retail/branch salaries (from SEEK ad ranges), published data refreshed 2 June 2026. Checked 2026-10-18. Midpoints of salary ranges in SEEK job ads, all banks. Not affiliated with SEEK.
- [5] Payscale: Financial Advisor salary in New Zealand (self-reported), published updated 29 June 2026. Checked 2026-10-18. Self-reported by individuals; small samples.
What does the role involve?
Most New Zealand finance graduates start in one of three places: an accounting firm (audit, tax or advisory), a bank graduate programme, or an assistant accountant or analyst role in a company. Bank programmes typically take applications months before a February start.