Doctors Salary in New Zealand

Doctors' salary in New Zealand starts at around NZD 80,882 (₹45,43,142) a year for a new house officer. A registrar on long rosters can earn up to NZD 243,818 (₹1,36,95,257). Senior doctors earn the most, with an average total package of NZD 343,500 (₹1,92,94,395).

Public hospital pay follows two national agreements. Junior doctors got a 2.5% plus NZD 1,000 (₹56,170) rise on 3 August 2026. Senior doctors settled a 5.9% rise over two years in May 2026, backdated to January 2026.

In this article, you'll find the average salary of a doctor in New Zealand, pay by experience and speciality, and ways to earn more. You'll also see what Indian doctors can expect and the registration steps they need to start working.

What Can a Doctor Earn in New Zealand?

A doctor in New Zealand can earn from NZD 80,882 (₹45,43,142) to over NZD 343,500 (₹1,92,94,395) a year. The lower figure is a first-year house officer on a 40-hour roster. The higher one is the average senior doctor package, including allowances.

The table below shows doctors' salary in New Zealand at each level, from new house officers to senior doctors. All figures come from the official public hospital pay agreements:

Doctor Level	Annual Salary (NZD)	Annual Salary (INR)
House officer (years 1 to 3)	80,882 to 162,381	₹45,43,142 to ₹91,20,941
Registrar (years 1 to 10)	95,209 to 243,818	₹53,47,890 to ₹1,36,95,257
GP registrar in training	124,904 to 139,545	₹70,15,858 to ₹78,38,243
Senior doctor (average total package)	343,500	₹1,92,94,395

Source: Glassdoor

Junior doctor rates apply from 3 August 2026. The senior doctor figure is Health New Zealand's average, and it includes on-call pay, overtime and allowances. Together, they give the clearest picture of doctors' salary in New Zealand today.

Average Salary of a Doctor in New Zealand

The average salary of a doctor in New Zealand depends on the data you look at. Self-reported salary data puts it at around NZD 130,012 (₹73,02,774) a year. Job ads show a higher range of NZD 220,000 to NZD 230,000 (₹1,23,57,400 to ₹1,29,19,100).

These two figures are nearly NZD 100,000 (₹56,17,000) apart, because each one measures pay in a different way. Here's why the numbers don't match:

• Different data: The lower figure comes from salaries doctors report on Glassdoor, while the higher one comes from salaries listed in job ads.
• Roster hours: A first-year registrar earns NZD 95,209 (₹53,47,890) on 40 hours and NZD 170,169 (₹95,58,393) on 65 hours or more.
• Minimum rates: The senior doctors' agreement only sets the minimum pay. Employers are free to pay more than these rates.

That's why doctors' salary in New Zealand is easier to read by grade and hours than as one number. Use the average salary of a doctor in New Zealand as a rough guide only.

How Does a Doctor's Salary Grow With Experience in New Zealand?

Doctors' salary in New Zealand rises at every stage of training. You start as a house officer, move up as a registrar and then become a senior doctor. Each stage has its own pay scale.

A doctor's pay can grow from NZD 80,882 (₹45,43,142) in the first year to an average package of NZD 343,500 (₹1,92,94,395) at senior level. The table below shows how doctors' salary in New Zealand grows at each career stage, along with what each role involves:

Career Stage	Annual Salary (NZD)	What the Role Involves
House officer	80,882 to 162,381 (₹45,43,142 to ₹91,20,941)	Early years after medical school, under supervision
Registrar	95,209 to 243,818 (₹53,47,890 to ₹1,36,95,257)	Speciality training with more independent work
Senior doctor or consultant	Average package of 343,500 (₹1,92,94,395)	Independent specialist on a 15-step pay scale

Source: Glassdoor

The salary of a doctor in New Zealand also depends on weekly roster hours. Each career stage below covers the pay scale, how hours change your pay and the ways to move up faster.

Junior Doctors and House Officers

A house officer is a doctor in their first years after medical school. From 3 August 2026, house officers earn NZD 80,882 (₹45,43,142) to NZD 162,381 (₹91,20,941) a year. The exact salary of a doctor in New Zealand at this stage depends on how many hours you work each week.

House officers are paid on six roster categories, from 40 hours a week up to 65 hours or more. The table below shows three of them, so you can see how pay changes with hours across the first three years:

Weekly Hours	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3
40 to 44.9	NZD 80,882 (₹45,43,142)	NZD 85,379 (₹47,95,738)	NZD 89,955 (₹50,52,772)
50 to 54.9	NZD 101,841 (₹57,20,409)	NZD 107,514 (₹60,39,061)	NZD 113,308 (₹63,64,510)
65 or more	NZD 145,727 (₹81,85,486)	NZD 154,020 (₹86,51,303)	NZD 162,381 (₹91,20,941)

House officers also get at least 3 hours of protected teaching time each week. It's rostered within normal hours.

Registrars and Doctors in Speciality Training

Registrars are doctors in speciality training. Their pay runs from NZD 95,209 (₹53,47,890) to NZD 243,818 (₹1,36,95,257) a year. That's one of the biggest jumps in doctors' salary in New Zealand.

Registrars move up one step each year, for up to 10 years on the shortest roster. The table below shows pay in the first year and at the top step, on the shortest and longest rosters:

Weekly Hours	Year 1	Top Step
40 to 44.9	NZD 95,209 (₹53,47,890)	NZD 155,347 (₹87,25,841) in year 10
65 or more	NZD 170,169 (₹95,58,393)	NZD 243,818 (₹1,36,95,257) in year 9

Registrars don't have to wait for yearly steps alone to earn more. Exams, relief roles and the next agreed pay rise can all lift your salary faster:

• Exam step: Passing your Part 1 college exams moves you up one step, though not before your sixth year after graduating.
• Relief work: Registrars at the top of the scale get an extra NZD 10,000 (₹5,61,700) a year while on relief, or NZD 15,000 (₹8,42,550) on Step 9 of the 65+ hour scale.
• Next pay rise: Every step goes up again by 2.5% plus NZD 1,000 (₹56,170) on 2 August 2027.

Consultants and Senior Specialists

Senior doctors earn the most in public hospitals. Health New Zealand puts their average total package at NZD 343,500 (₹1,92,94,395) a year. Senior roles bring the highest medical doctors' salary in New Zealand in the public system.

Around 5,500 senior doctors are covered by one national agreement, which sets their pay scale and yearly rises. Here's how senior doctor pay works under that agreement:

• 15-step scale: Senior doctors move up one step each year until they reach the top.
• Step increase: Each step adds around NZD 5,900 (₹3,31,403) to base pay.
• Minimum rates: The agreement sets the lowest pay, so employers can agree to better terms.
• 2026 rise: A 5.9% rise over two years was settled in May 2026 and backdated to January 2026.

Senior doctors earn well above the average salary of a doctor in New Zealand. Senior roles are where doctors' salary in New Zealand reaches its highest public level.

Which Doctor Roles and Specialities Pay the Most in New Zealand?

In public hospitals, all specialists share the same senior doctor scale. A surgeon and a psychiatrist on the same step earn the same base pay. On-call work, allowances and private practice make the real difference to doctors' salary in New Zealand.

GPs (General Practitioners), GP (General Practitioner) and hospital specialists are paid in different ways, so their salaries don't sit on one scale. The table below compares the three, along with what moves pay up or down in each role:

Role	Annual Salary (NZD)	What Affects Pay
GP registrar (in training)	124,904 to 139,545 (₹70,15,858 to ₹78,38,243)	Years of experience after graduating
Salaried GP	150,000 to 220,000 (₹84,25,500 to ₹1,23,57,400)	Clinic, hours and location
Public hospital specialist	Average package of 343,500 (₹1,92,94,395)	Pay step, on-call duties and allowances

The salaried GP range is an industry estimate based on job ads and surveys. The other figures come from official pay agreements. The salary of a veterinary doctor in New Zealand isn't covered by these agreements, since vets aren't medical doctors.

Each role below explains how pay is set, from GP clinics to hospital speciality departments like psychiatry and surgery.

General Practitioner Salary

General practitioners earn well in New Zealand. Salaried GPs earn around NZD 150,000 to NZD 220,000 (₹84,25,500 to ₹1,23,57,400) a year, based on industry data. GP registrars in training are paid on a separate official scale.

GP registrars are paid by how many years they've worked since graduating, not by roster hours. The table below shows their pay from 3 August 2026:

Years of Experience	Annual Salary
Less than 5 years	NZD 124,904 (₹70,15,858)
5 to 6 years	NZD 132,517 (₹74,43,480)
7 years or more	NZD 139,545 (₹78,38,243)

Psychiatrist Salary

Psychiatrists in public hospitals are paid on the same senior doctor scale as other specialists. So the psychiatrist salary in New Zealand for Indian doctors matches that of any specialist on the same step. Psychiatry registrars earn NZD 95,209 to NZD 243,818 (₹53,47,890 to ₹1,36,95,257), like other registrars.

A psychiatrist's pay depends on four things, from training stage to registration. Here's how each one shapes what you earn:

• Training stage: Registrars and senior doctors are paid on different scales.
• Pay step: Your years of experience as a specialist decide your step.
• Extra duties: On-call work and allowances add to the base salary.
• Registration: Overseas psychiatrists need registration in a specialist (vocational) scope to work as specialists.

Surgeon and Other Specialist Salaries

Surgeons, anaesthetists and other hospital specialists also share the senior doctor scale. Their average total package is NZD 343,500 (₹1,92,94,395) a year. Specialists who take on more duties earn more within that package.

The NZD 343,500 (₹1,92,94,395) figure isn't base pay alone. It's made up of four parts, which together form a specialist's full package:

• Base salary: This is set by your step on the 15-step scale.
• On-call and overtime: These are paid on top of base salary.
• Allowances: These include availability, recruitment and retention, and ED allowances.
• Super payments: Employer retirement contributions are counted in the package.

Does Location Change Doctors' Salary in New Zealand?

Location changes doctors' salary in New Zealand less than most people expect. Public hospital pay follows national agreements, so the base scale is the same in every city. Rural roles and self-reported city salaries are where differences show up.

City salaries reported by doctors differ a little, while public pay scales stay the same everywhere. The table below compares Auckland, Wellington and rural hospitals:

Location	Average Salary (Self-Reported)	What's Different
Auckland	Around NZD 95,900 (₹53,86,703) a year for a medical doctor	Same public pay scale as other cities
Wellington	Around NZD 100,000 (₹56,17,000) a year for a doctor	Same public pay scale as other cities
Rural hospitals	National scale plus allowances	Extra support for housing and moving

Both city averages sit below the national average salary of a doctor in New Zealand, which is around NZD 130,012 (₹73,02,774). In public hospitals, city choice barely moves doctors' salary in New Zealand.

Each area below covers what doctors earn there and what decides their pay, from big city hospitals to rural runs.

Doctor Salary in Auckland

Auckland follows the same public pay scales as the rest of the country. Medical doctors in Auckland report an average salary of around NZD 95,900 (₹53,86,703) a year. That figure comes from salaries doctors share themselves, so it works best as a rough guide.

Your pay in Auckland isn't set by the city. It depends on three things that apply across New Zealand:

• Grade and step: Your place on the national scale sets your base pay.
• Roster hours: Longer weekly hours move you into a higher salary category.
• Employer: Private clinics can pay above the public minimum rates.

Doctor Salary in Wellington and Christchurch

Public hospital doctors in Wellington and Christchurch are paid on the same national pay scales. So your salary depends more on your role and experience than on which of these two cities you work in.

• Wellington: Doctors here report an average salary of around NZD 100,000 (₹56,17,000) a year.
• Christchurch: Public hospital doctors follow the same national rates for house officers, registrars and senior doctors as the rest of the country.
• Pay growth: In both cities, your pay rises as you move from house officer to registrar and then to a senior doctor role.

Rural Doctor Salaries

Rural hospitals use the same national scale, with extra support on top. Junior doctors at listed rural hospitals get a rural hospital allowance. Balclutha, Dunstan and Gore were added to that list in the 2026 agreement.

The 2026 agreement also gives junior doctors clear promises when they take a rural run. Here's what you can count on:

• Return option: Doctors who take a rural or hard-to-staff run can return to their base hospital afterwards.
• Stay option: They can also choose to stay on at the rural hospital.
• Moving support: Moving costs are paid, along with housing help.

Rural support adds to doctors' salary in New Zealand without changing the base scale.

What Can Increase a Doctor's Total Earnings in New Zealand?

Base pay is only part of doctors' salary in New Zealand. Longer rosters, relief roles and rural runs all add to it. For senior doctors, extras are already built into the NZD 343,500 (₹1,92,94,395) average package.

There are four main ways to earn more than your base salary. Each one is explained below, with the rules and figures that apply.

Overtime and On-Call Pay

Junior doctors earn more when they work longer rosters. A first-year house officer earns NZD 80,882 (₹45,43,142) on 40 hours and NZD 145,727 (₹81,85,486) on 65 hours or more. That's a gap of NZD 64,845 (₹36,42,344) at the same grade.

Extra pay works differently for junior doctors, senior registrars and senior doctors. Here's how each group can add to their base salary:

• Longer rosters: More weekly hours move junior doctors into higher salary categories.
• Additional duty rates: Senior registrars can earn these once they've passed Part 1 and reached Step 4 or higher.
• Senior on-call pay: Senior doctors' packages include on-call duties, overtime and availability allowances.

Roster hours are the biggest lever in doctors' salary in New Zealand for junior doctors. These extras can change the salary of a doctor in New Zealand by tens of thousands of dollars.

Private Practice

Private work gives specialists a way to earn more on top of their hospital pay. How much extra you earn depends on what you agree with your employer or clinic.

• Minimum rates only: The senior doctors' agreement sets only the minimum pay, so doctors can agree extra terms with their employer.
• Private clinics: Pay in private clinics isn't covered by these agreements, so it varies from one clinic to another.

Locum Work

Locum, or relief, work pays junior doctors more than a standard role. This extra pay covers the flexibility of filling gaps across different rosters.

• Higher salary category: Junior doctors hired as relievers are paid two salary categories above their roster.
• Extra pay for senior registrars: Top-step registrar relievers get an extra NZD 10,000 to NZD 15,000 (₹5,61,700 to ₹8,42,550) a year.

Rural Incentives

Junior doctors who take up rural runs get practical support to help them settle in. These benefits cover moving, housing and what happens after the run ends.

• Moving costs: Your relocation costs are covered when you move for a rural run.
• Housing support: You get housing, or an accommodation allowance of up to NZD 200 (₹11,234) a week for up to 6 months.
• Return option: You can choose to go back to your base hospital once the run ends.

What Benefits Come With Doctor Jobs in New Zealand?

Doctor jobs in New Zealand come with paid leave, training money and retirement savings. Senior doctors get NZD 16,000 (₹8,98,720) a year for medical education alone. These benefits add real value to doctors' salary in New Zealand.

Some benefits come from New Zealand law and apply to every worker. Others come from the doctors' pay agreements. Each one is covered below.

Paid Leave and Sick Leave

All workers in New Zealand, including doctors, get paid leave and sick leave by law. These are minimum rights, so your employer can't offer you less.

• Annual leave: You get at least 4 weeks of paid annual leave after 12 months of work.
• Sick leave: You get 10 days of paid sick leave a year after 6 months of work.
• Carry-over: Any sick leave you don't use can build up to a total of 20 days.

Training and Professional Development

Training support covers doctors at every level. Senior doctors get a yearly education allowance, while junior doctors get paid leave before exams.

Training benefits change as you move up, from exam leave for junior doctors to yearly funding for senior doctors. The table below shows what each stage gets:

Stage	Training Benefit
Senior doctors	NZD 16,000 (₹8,98,720) a year for continuing medical education, pro-rated for part-time staff
Junior doctors	2 weeks of medical education leave right before compulsory college exams
Senior registrars	Conference allowance of NZD 8,000 (₹4,49,360)

These benefits sit on top of medical doctors' salary in New Zealand.

Relocation Support

Junior doctors who move for training get help with the cost. The transfer grant is NZD 1,000 (₹56,170).

On top of the transfer grant, junior doctors get a meals and incidentals allowance for their first month in a new place. Here's how it's paid:

• First 2 weeks: You get an allowance of NZD 80 (₹4,494) gross.
• Weeks 3 and 4: The allowance drops to NZD 65 (₹3,651) gross.

Retirement and Other Employment Benefits

Employers must add at least 3.5% of your pay to KiwiSaver from 1 April 2026. Junior doctors get more, with a 6% matched employer contribution. That money can go into KiwiSaver or another super fund.

Junior doctors also get two benefits that support long-term job security and family life. Here's what they cover:

• Job security after training: Junior doctors who finish training in New Zealand are entitled to an offer of a permanent senior role in their speciality, if a vacancy exists.
• Part-time return: Junior doctors returning from parental leave as primary carers can work part-time for the first 12 months.

Doctors' Salary in New Zealand for Indian Doctors

Doctors' salary in New Zealand for Indian doctors follows the same pay scales as everyone else. Your grade, experience and roster hours decide your pay, not your nationality. Indian MBBS graduates without UK, Irish or other comparable experience register through an exam route first.

Plan your options early with our Jobs After MBBS.

The sections below cover what Indian doctors can earn at each stage, what shapes that salary and whether pay matches that of local doctors.

What Salary Can Indian Doctors Expect?

Indian doctors who pass NZREX usually start in a first-year (PGY1) post. A first-year house officer earns NZD 80,882 to NZD 145,727 (₹45,43,142 to ₹81,85,486), depending on roster hours. From there, the salary of a doctor in New Zealand grows with each year and grade.

Indian doctors follow the same three-stage path as local doctors, from house officer to senior doctor. The table below shows what you can earn at each stage:

Career Stage	Annual Salary (NZD)
First-year house officer	80,882 to 145,727 (₹45,43,142 to ₹81,85,486)
Registrar	95,209 to 243,818 (₹53,47,890 to ₹1,36,95,257)
Senior doctor	Average package of 343,500 (₹1,92,94,395)

The psychiatrist salary in New Zealand for Indian doctors follows the same path, from registrar to senior doctor. Over time, you can reach and pass the average salary of a doctor in New Zealand.

What Determines Your Salary as an Indian Doctor?

Six things shape doctors' salary in New Zealand for an Indian doctor. Registration comes first, since you can't work without it.

Each of these factors can move your pay up or down, even within the same grade. Here's how each one works:

• Registration: Your registration scope decides which roles you can take.
• Experience: Your years after graduating set your step on the pay scale.
• Roster hours: Longer weekly hours move you into a higher salary category.
• Speciality: GP training and hospital speciality training use different scales.
• Location: Rural runs bring allowances and housing support.
• Employer: Private clinics can pay above public minimum rates.

Strong English scores matter too, since they're part of registration. Our IELTS Band Score Chart explains how bands work.

Can Indian Doctors Earn the Same as New Zealand Doctors?

Yes, Indian doctors earn the same as New Zealand doctors in the same role. Pay follows national agreements, which set rates by grade, step and hours. Workers on valid work visas also get the same legal protections as New Zealand citizens.

Since pay is set by role and not by nationality, two things apply to you once you're registered:

• Same scale: You're placed on the same pay scale as local doctors.
• Yearly growth: Your pay rises as you move up the steps each year.

The salary of a doctor in New Zealand is linked to the role, not the passport. Medical doctors' salary in New Zealand stays the same for local and overseas doctors in the same post.

How Can Indian Doctors Work as Doctors in New Zealand?

Indian doctors must register with the Medical Council of New Zealand before they can work. There are three main registration routes for overseas doctors. Indian MBBS graduates usually take the exam route through NZREX, PLAB or the AMC exams.

Each step below covers one part of registration, from MCNZ checks and English tests to supervised practice in your first job.

Medical Council of New Zealand Registration

You need to register with the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) before you can work as a doctor in the country. The MCNZ is the official body that checks and registers every doctor, including those trained overseas.

• Supervision: Overseas doctors on provisional or special purpose registration must work under the supervision of a senior doctor.
• Credential check through EPIC: Your medical degree and exam results must be verified through EPIC (Electronic Portfolio of International Credentials). This is an online service that confirms your documents directly with your university and exam boards.

English Language Requirements

MCNZ checks your English before registration or NZREX. IELTS Academic and OET Medical are the accepted tests. There's no overall band score, as each section has its own minimum.

You must meet the minimum score in every section of one test, not just on average. The table below shows the scores for both tests:

Test Section	IELTS Academic	OET Medical
Speaking	7.0	350
Listening	7.0	350
Reading	7.0	350
Writing	6.5	300

Results must be from within 2 years of your application. You can combine two sittings within 12 months, as long as no section falls below 6.5 in IELTS or 300 in OET.

Registration Pathways for Overseas Doctors

Overseas doctors can register through three main pathways. Each one suits a different training background. Indian doctors without UK or Irish training usually use the exams pathway.

The right pathway depends on where you studied and where you've worked. The table below shows who each one is for and what you need:

Pathway	Who It's For	What You Need
Exams	Doctors trained elsewhere, including India	NZREX Clinical, PLAB 1 and 2, or AMC MCQ and Clinical exams passed within 5 years
Competent authority	UK and Irish graduates	Medical degree and internship completed in the UK or Ireland
Comparable health system	Doctors with experience in recognised countries	Experience in one of 29 countries with health systems comparable to New Zealand

To sit NZREX Clinical, you first need PLAB Part 1, the AMC MCQ, or USMLE Steps 1 and 2 (Clinical Knowledge) within the last 5 years. NZREX is held twice a year in Auckland, and a pass stays valid for 5 years.

Learn more in our guides on the PLAB Exam and the USMLE Exam. You can also compare both in PLAB vs USMLE.

Supervised Practice and Job Requirements

Every overseas doctor starts under supervision. NZREX graduates need a PGY1 job before they can get provisional registration. Moving to full registration isn't automatic.

UK and Irish graduates on the competent authority pathway need to meet three conditions before moving to the general scope. Here's what each one involves:

• Supervised practice: You must complete 6 months of full-time approved supervised practice.
• Good reports: You need two satisfactory supervision reports in a row.
• Supervisor support: Your approved supervisor must recommend you for general registration.

Suggested Read: OET Exam

Conclusion

Doctors' salary in New Zealand grows fast with training and experience. A new house officer starts at NZD 80,882 (₹45,43,142), while senior doctors average NZD 343,500 (₹1,92,94,395) with allowances. Roster hours, rural runs and relief work can push your pay even higher.

Your next step depends on where you are in your medical career. The table below matches common situations with the best place to start:

If This Is You	Start Here
"I'm a fresh MBBS graduate."	Clear PLAB 1, the AMC MCQ or USMLE Steps 1 and 2, then sit NZREX Clinical
"I'm in speciality training."	Check the registrar scale of NZD 95,209 to NZD 243,818 (₹53,47,890 to ₹1,36,95,257)
"I want to earn more."	Longer rosters, relief work and rural runs raise the salary of a doctor in New Zealand
"I'm a psychiatrist from India."	The psychiatrist salary in New Zealand for Indian doctors follows the senior doctor scale once you're registered

If you need help with your exam preparation, student visa process, or other parts of your study abroad journey, you can book a free 1:1 counselling session with upGrad’s study abroad experts today!