Pay rise calculator
See what a raise or new job offer actually adds to your take-home pay, after tax, ACC and KiwiSaver.
What this means for you
See how much of your gross raise is actually lost to tax, ACC and KiwiSaver.
Compare the size of the ask
If a specific net outcome matters to you, asking for a bigger gross figure is the lever — see the effect.
| Scenario | New gross salary | Net gain / year |
|---|---|---|
| Current ask | $0 | $0 |
| +$5,000 more | $0 | $0 |
| +$10,000 more | $0 | $0 |
A bigger gross ask doesn't convert 1:1 to net gain, but it does mean each additional gross dollar still adds real take-home pay on top of what you'd otherwise get.
Assumptions & sources
Inland Revenue (IRD) 2026/27 PAYE tax brackets and ACC earner levy rate.
1 July 2026
17 July 2026
Net pay calculated separately at your old and new salary (PAYE tax, ACC earner levy, KiwiSaver, student loan if applicable), then compared to find the net gain and effective marginal rate on the raise itself.
PAYE income tax, ACC earner levy, KiwiSaver contribution, and student loan repayment if applicable, at both salary levels.
Working for Families tax credits, secondary tax codes, and other individual circumstances that could change your actual result.
Related reading
What does your salary actually look like after tax in NZ?
A $80,000 salary doesn't mean $80,000 in the bank — here's what actually comes off your pay, and what's left.
Read article →
Contractor vs employee in NZ: which leaves you better off?
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Read article →Why a raise feels smaller in your bank account
New Zealand's tax system is marginal, meaning a raise is taxed at increasing rates only on the portion that falls into each new bracket — not your entire income. Even so, the marginal rate on the raise itself is usually higher than your overall average tax rate, since it's stacked on top of income already using up the lower brackets. Add KiwiSaver (commonly 3.5% of the extra income) and ACC earner levy, and a $10,000 raise can easily net out at $5,500-$6,500 in extra take-home pay rather than the full amount.
This is worth knowing before negotiating — a raise that sounds generous gross can be underwhelming net, and it's reasonable to ask for a slightly larger gross figure if a specific net outcome matters to your budget.
Frequently asked questions
Tax is marginal, so only the portion of a raise in a higher bracket is taxed at the higher rate — but people often mentally apply that rate to the whole raise. KiwiSaver and ACC levy also come out before it reaches your account, further shrinking the visible increase.
For 2026/27: 10.5% to $15,600, 17.5% to $53,500, 30% to $78,100, 33% to $180,000, 39% above. Only income within each band is taxed at that rate — moving into a higher bracket doesn't raise the rate on income you already earned.
