Here’s how much police officers get paid
Wednesday, 13 March 2024
Police are considering industrial action over what they’ve described as an “insulting” pay offer.
First-year officers earn a base salary of $67,126.
After five years, the average salary is $74,123.
The Government’s latest pay offer to police will push some officers “over the edge”, either to Australia or into other jobs, their colleagues say.
The warning comes as police consider industrial action in response to what’s been described by some as an “insulting” offer, sent to officers on Friday.
Police Association president Chris Cahill said that while nobody joined the police to get rich, “you'd like to think you can afford to feed your family, pay your rent and buy a home in New Zealand as a police officer.”
So, how much do police get paid and how does their salary stack up against some other public sector jobs?
Police
If a call to 0800NEWCOPS leads to the Royal NZ Police College campus in Porirua, a police recruit can expect to be paid a salary of $50,834 during training.
In their first year out of college, new officers get an annual salary of $67,126.
After five years on the force, the average annual salary rises to $74,123, or $82,773 including extras.
Nurses
Pay rates for nurses working for Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand vary as significantly as their roles.
Senior nurses and nurse practitioners (highly experienced and educated nurses who can work autonomously and, in some cases, as the lead healthcare provider) earn between $105,704 and $153,060 a year.
Registered and community nurses are paid $69,566 to $99,630, while enrolled, obstetric, Karitane nurses and nurse assistants earn between $63,898 and $76,921 per year.
Defence force
Newly-recruited sailors, soldiers and aviators usually earn $51,000 a year. After finishing their training, they can expect an annual salary of $66,000 to $77,000.
Officers are on a better wicket, earning between $78,000 and $133,000 a year.
Teachers
Pay parity for teachers means they earn the same rates of pay across early childcare, primary and secondary education.
On the lowest salary band, teachers currently earn $56,757, although that will increase to $59,027 next month and to $61,329 by the end of the year.
At the other end of the salary scale, teachers with extra subject or specialist qualifications are paid $95,400, rising to $103,086 in December.
The largest part of a principal’s pay is the roll-based salary, which ranges from $103,913 to $181,536 depending on the size of the school.