Salaries are annual unless otherwise stated.
Salary and wage information for New Zealand professions is compiled regularly by analysis of New Zealand jobs advertised in major publications. Salaries are annual unless otherwise stated.
According to the New Zealand Dental Association there is a shortage of dental hygienists, dental therapists and dental assistants in New Zealand. Dental technicians, however, are no longer on the NZ immediate skills shortage list.
Dental assistants receive the lowest rate of pay in this industry and some positions may offer the minimum wage rate which is currently $18.90 per hour.
Dental hygienists / oral health therapists usually are paid an hourly rate and this can range from $30 to $60 an hour depending on location and experience.
Dental Technicians typically start on around $48,000, rising to between $60,000 and $75,000 with five years experience.
Dental therapists graduates can expect to earn over $45,000 and a senior experienced dental therapist can earn up to $90,000.
Dental Technician / Hygienist / Therapist / Assistant Salaries
Wages in 2020
| Dental Occupations | Salary / Wage $ | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Dental Assistant / Orthodontic Auxiliary trainee | 40,000 – 50,000 | Rodney and North Shore, Auckland |
| Junior Dental Technician | 47,000 – 57,000 | Auckland |
| Senior Dental Technician | 70,000 – 80,000 | Auckland |
| Dental Therapist | 45,000 – 55,000 | Auckland |
| Senior Dental Assistant | 37,000 – 47,000 | Wellington |
| Dental Hygienist / Oral Health Therapist | 35 – 43 per hour | Wellington |
| Orthodontic Dental Assistant/ Receptionist | 37,000 – 45,000 | Wellington |
| Dental Technician | 47,000 – 57,000 | Wellington |
| Dental Therapist | 42,000 – 55,000 | Christchurch |
| Intermediate Dental Technician | 50,000 – 65,000 | Christchurch |
| Dental Assistant | 20 – 25 per hour | Christchurch |
| | ||
For comparison, the average hourly wage in New Zealand for the quarter ending 31 March 2020 was $33.20 according to Statistics New Zealand.
This would give an annual average salary of around $65,600, working standard full-time hours (38 hours).
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