Do you dream of working in New Zealand? It could be within your reach if you work in an occupation on the Green List. This list includes over 100 jobs that are in demand in New Zealand!
What is the Green List?
The Green List includes over 100 jobs in demand in New Zealand, and it offers a fast-track to residence or work to residence pathway:
- Tier 1 occupations: You’re eligible for Straight to Residence if you work in a Tier 1 occupation and have a job offer from an accredited employer.
- Tier 2 occupations: Skilled migrants in Tier 2 occupations qualify for Work to Residence after working in New Zealand for two years. Immigration New Zealand is opening applications for this pathway to residence in September 2023.
Your work visa – the Accredited Employer Work Visa
The Accredited Employer Work Visa is the visa you’d apply for if you have an occupation on the Green List. This work visa lets you live and work in New Zealand for up to three years for an accredited employer.
The requirements:
To apply for an Accredited Employer Work Visa, you must:
- Have an offer of full-time work from an accredited employer
- Earn at least the New Zealand median wage unless the job is exempt
- Have the necessary skills, qualifications and work experience to perform the job offered
- Have occupational registration, if required
- Meet New Zealand’s health and character requirements
The jobs in demand
As mentioned, the Green List includes over 100 jobs in demand in New Zealand – 113, to be exact!
The occupations range from engineers and veterinarians to nurses and plumbers. You’ll find the complete list in the following order below:
- Engineers
- Scientists
- Farmers
- Doctors, surgeons, and other healthcare professionals
- Nurses
- Mental health professionals
- Veterinarians
- Teachers
- Construction workers
- ICT, electronics, and telecommunications professionals
- Tradesmen
The breakdown also includes the Tier of the occupations, one or two, and average salaries.
1. Engineers
New Zealand has a nationwide demand for engineers due to increased investment in infrastructure. The New Zealand government wants to grow the economy after the COVID-19 pandemic, but it also wants to modernise existing assets and prepare for climate change.
Salary:
On average, engineers earn NZD97,749 per year. Entry-level salaries start at NZD76,556 per annum, while experienced engineers earn up to NZD130,000 yearly.
Tier 1 – Straight to Residence:
Engineers are Tier 1, which means skilled migrants in these occupations are eligible for Straight to Residence.
Occupations:
Acoustic Engineer; Calibration Engineer; Chemical Engineer; Civil Engineer; Civil Engineering Technician; Corrosion Engineer; Electrical Engineer; Electrical Engineering Technician; Electronic Engineering Technician; Electronics Engineer; Engineering Professionals nec; Environmental Engineer; Fire Safety Engineer; Geotechnical Engineer; Industrial Engineer; Materials Engineer; Mechanical Engineer; Mechatronics Engineer; Product Design Engineer; Production or Plant Engineer; Safety Engineer; Structural Engineer; Telecommunications Engineer; Telecommunications Network Engineer; Test and Activation Engineer (Naval Shipbuilding)
2. Scientists:
New Zealand’s research institutions are renowned the world over, and cover many fields, including agricultural biotechnology, genomics, and biopharmaceuticals.
The focus when recruiting from overseas is on scientists in primary industries, such as agriculture and forestries, as New Zealand’s economy relies on these industries.
Salary:
Scientists in New Zealand earn an average annual salary of NZD 97,046. Entry-level scientists earn NZD80,000 per year, and scientists in senior positions make up to NZD125,000 yearly.
Tier 1 – Straight to Residence:
The scientists on the Green List are all Tier 1, which means skilled migrants in these occupations are eligible for Straight to Residence.
Occupations:
Environmental Research Scientist; Food Technologist; Other Spatial Scientist
3. Farmers
Agriculture is a huge contributor to New Zealand’s economy. Together with fisheries and related sectors, it generates over 80% of the country’s merchandise exports.
The biggest export earner is dairy, which is worth about NZD19 billion a year to New Zealand. Meat products are also a big export earner, with beef and lamb exports alone totalling more than NZD5 billion annually.
Salary:
Entry-level dairy farmers earn between NZD63,000 and NZD71,00 per year. Experienced dairy farm managers, on the other hand, could earn an annual salary of between NZD71,000 and NZD120,000.
Tier 2 – Work to Residence:
The agricultural occupations on the Green List are Tier 2, meaning migrants in these occupations are eligible for Work to Residence after two years of working in New Zealand.
Occupations:
Dairy Cattle Farmer (Dairy Cattle Farm Manager), including Dairy Farm Manager, Assistant Dairy Farm Manager and Dairy Herd Manager
4. Doctors, surgeons, and other healthcare professionals
There is a high demand for healthcare workers across New Zealand. This demand is driven by several factors, including a growing population, increasing health needs, and rising health expectations.
The ageing healthcare workforce is also creating a need for healthcare professionals. Many GPs are retiring.
It’s not only GPs that are needed, though. New Zealand needs healthcare professionals in multiple disciplines and specialities, from cardiology and dermatology to paediatrics and neurology.
Salary:
On average, doctors in New Zealand earn NZD201,074 per year. Entry-level salaries start at NZD117,789 per year, while experienced doctors could earn up to NZD300,000 annually.
Surgeons earn similarly to doctors, with an annual average salary of NZD204,465.
However, starting salaries for surgeons are a bit higher, while salaries on the higher end are lower than for doctors. Surgeons starting out earn NZD140,908 annually, while senior surgeons take home up to NZD212,833 per year.
Tier 1 and Tier 2
Doctors, surgeons, and other healthcare professionals on the Green List include Tier 1 and 2 occupations. The occupations are broken down accordingly.
Tier 1 occupations:
Anaesthetist; Cardiologist; Cardiothoracic Surgeon; Clinical Haematologist; Dermatologist; Endocrinologist; Gastroenterologist; General Practitioner; Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologist; Emergency Medicine Specialist; Intensive Care Specialist; Medical Laboratory Scientist; Medical Oncologist; Medical Practitioners nec:; Midwife; Neurologist; Neurosurgeon; Obstetrician and Gynaecologist; Ophthalmologist; Orthopaedic Surgeon; Otorhinolaryngologist; Paediatric Surgeon; Paediatrician; Pathologist; Physicist (medical); Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon; Radiation Oncologist; Renal Medicine Specialist; Resident Medical Officer; Rheumatologist; Specialist Physician (General Medicine); Specialist Physician nec; Surgeon (General); Thoracic Medicine Specialist; Urologist; Vascular Surgeon
Tier 2 occupations:
Anaesthetic Technician; Audiologist; Medical diagnostic (Medical Imaging Technologist); Medical Laboratory Technician; Medical Radiation Therapist; Occupational Therapist; Podiatrist; Sonographer
5. Nurses
It’s not only GPs that are retiring. It’s estimated that up to one in five nurses will consider retiring in the next five years. At the same time, New Zealanders enrolling in nurse training have been declining.
These factors have created a high demand for nurses, with plenty of opportunities country-wide in the public and private sectors.
Salary:
Nurses earn NZD73,739 on average per year. Nurses in entry-level positions take home NZD63,648 per year, while experienced nurses earn an average annual salary of up to NZD95,000.
Tier 1 – Straight to Residence:
Nurses are Tier 1 occupations, which means skilled migrants in these jobs are eligible to apply for Straight to Residence.
Occupations:
Registered Nurse (Aged Care); Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health); Registered Nurse (Community Health); Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency); Registered Nurse (Developmental Disability); Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation); Registered Nurse (Medical Practice); Registered Nurse (Medical); Registered Nurse (Mental Health); Registered Nurse (Paediatrics); Registered Nurse (Perioperative); Registered Nurse (Surgical); Registered Nurses nec
6. Mental health professionals
Mental health professionals, especially psychiatrists, are sought-after in New Zealand. There is a growing demand for psychiatrists throughout the country, with opportunities in public hospitals, community mental health centres, private hospitals, and medical schools.
Salary:
Psychiatrists earn an average annual salary of NZD192,000. Entry-level positions start at NZD161,304 per year, while more experienced psychiatrists earn up to NZD229,023 per year.
In comparison, psychologists earn much less. These mental health professionals earn an average of NZD90,968 per year. Starting salaries are NZD78,982 per year, with more experienced psychologists making up to NZD106,837 per year.
Tier 1 – Straight to Residence:
Mental health professionals on the Green List are Tier 1, which means skilled migrants in these jobs are eligible to apply for Straight to Residence.
Occupations:
Clinical Psychologist; Educational Psychologist; Organisational Psychologist; Psychiatrist; Psychologists nec; Psychotherapist
7. Veterinarians
Veterinarians have always been in short supply in New Zealand.
During COVID-19, the shortage worsened due to the country’s strict border controls. Most people from overseas, including skilled migrants, couldn’t enter New Zealand for more than two years.
Today, veterinarians can enter New Zealand again to supply their much-needed skills.
Salary:
Veterinarians earn an average of NZD110,550 per year. Entry-level salaries are NZD100,176 per year. Senior veterinarians earn up to NZD126,444 per year.
Tier 1 – Straight to Residence:
Veterinarians is a Tier 1 Occupation, meaning it’s eligible for Straight to Residence.
Occupations:
Veterinarian
8. Teachers
Educators working in New Zealand find themselves in a world-class education system. It’s a sector that’s well-supported and admired internationally.
Teachers work in state, state-integrated, or private schools, and children are taught through practical and theoretical learning.
Salary:
Teachers earn an average annual salary of NZD57,500. Entry-level salaries start at NZD46,800, while senior teachers earn up to NZD78,554 per year.
Tier 2:
The teaching occupations on the Green List are Tier 2, meaning migrants in these occupations are eligible for Work to Residence after two years of working in New Zealand.
Occupations:
Early Childhood (Pre-Primary School) Teacher – registered; Secondary School Teacher
9. Construction workers
Construction is New Zealand’s fifth-largest economic sector, employing just over a quarter of a million people.
That number is set to grow, as the New Zealand government estimates that around 4,800 new jobs will be created in construction each year until 2028.
Most of the new jobs will be in residential builds in Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington, along with the Waikato region and Bay of Plenty.
Salary:
The highest earners on the Green List are Construction Project Managers. These professionals take home an average of NZD133,416 per year.
In second place are Surveyors and Quantity Surveyors, with average annual salaries of NZD100,00. Project Builders come in third. These workers earn NZD90,000 per year.
Annual starting and senior salaries in the construction industry are as follows:
- Construction Project Manager: NZD133,416 / Up to NZD179,500
- Quantity Surveyor: NZD70,383 / Up to NZD140,750
- Surveyor: NZD70,000 / Up to NZD140,000
- Project Builders: NZD67,763 / Up to NZD110,000
Tier 1 – Straight to Residence:
Skilled migrants working in construction are in Tier 1 occupations, meaning they’re eligible for Straight to Residence.
Occupations:
Construction Project Manager; Project Builder (including Building Project Manager and Site Foreman); Quantity Surveyor; Surveyor
10. ICT, electronics, and telecommunications professionals
New Zealand’s tech sector is world-renowned! It has earned its brilliant reputation through being flexible, resilient, adaptable, and entrepreneurial.
The tech sector is also one of New Zealand’s biggest economic contributors. In 2021, it exported NZD8.6 billion globally!
Salary:
Tech workers earn some of the highest salaries in New Zealand. ICT Managers, for example, earn an average of NZD130,000 per year.
As another example, software engineers earn an average salary of NZD 107,250 per year.
When starting their careers, ICT Managers make NZD115,605 per year, while Software Engineers earn NZD84,553 annually. Senior ICT Managers take home up to NZD156,316 per year, while that number is NZD140,000 per year for senior software engineers.
Tier 1 – Straight to Residence
ICT, electronics, and telecommunication occupations are rated Tier 1, meaning skilled migrants in these roles are eligible for Straight to Residence.
Occupations:
Analyst Programmer; Chief Information Officer; Developer Programmer; ICT Manager nec; ICT Project Manager; ICT Security Specialist; Multimedia Specialist; Software and Applications Programmer nec; Software Engineer; Software Tester
11. Tradesmen
There’s a high demand for skilled tradesmen in New Zealand. Many key industries depend on electricians, plumbers, and mechanics.
The construction boom in the country has also created a need for qualified and experienced tradesmen, specifically electricians and plumbers. Electricians and plumbers work in new developments, renovations and repairs.
Salary:
In this group, diesel motor mechanics are the highest earners at an average annual salary of NZD72,150. Electricians, on average, earn NZD71,663 per year, and plumbers earn an average salary of NZD61,425 per year.
The annual starting and senior salaries are as follows:
- Diesel motor mechanics: NZD62,400 / up to NZD87,750
- Electricians: NZD65,325 / up to NZD95,125
- Plumbers: NZD54,732 / up to NZD76,650
Tier 2 – Work to Residence:
The trade occupations on the Green List are Tier 2, meaning migrants in these occupations are eligible for Work to Residence after two years of working in New Zealand.
Occupations:
Automotive Electrician; Diesel Motor Mechanic (including Heavy Vehicle Inspector); Electrician (General); Plumber (General)
Is your occupation one of the jobs in demand in New Zealand?
Warning – determining your eligibility to apply for an Accredited Employer Work Visa is not as simple as matching your occupation to one on the Green List!
You must also meet all the other requirements, such as having a job offer from an accredited employer and earning enough if it applies to your occupation.
How do you find out if you do? Ask a licensed advisor to assess your eligibility against all relevant criteria. It’s a critical step in your immigration journey!
