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.
Job titles in this occupation vary and some examples are structural engineer, structural design engineer, bridge engineer and chartered structural engineer.
New Zealand has a shortage of structural engineers. As a result structural engineers are currently on New Zealand’s long term skills shortage list. Structural engineers are in particularly high demand in Christchurch and Auckland.
A typical starting salary for a new graduate is around $47,000 to $57,000. With several years’ experience you can expect to earn between $65,000 and $110,000 a year. Experienced senior structural engineers can earn up to $170,000.
Engineering New Zealand is the professional body which represents professional engineers from all disciplines in New Zealand. Their 2019 remuneration survey showed a median base salary for structural engineer of around $95,000.
Structural Engineer Salaries / Wages in 2020
| Position | Salary / Wage $ | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate Structural Engineer | 52,000 – 62,000 | Northland |
| Principal Structural Engineer | 147,00 – 163,000 | Auckland |
| Senior Structural Engineer | 95,00 – 115,000 | Auckland |
| Intermediate Structural Engineer | 90,000 – 120,000 | Auckland |
| Graduate Structural Engineer | 58,000 | Auckland |
| Structural Engineer | 95,000 | Wellington |
| Intermediate Structural Engineer | up to 98,000 | Tauranga |
| Principal Structural Engineer | 120,000 | Wellington |
| Senior Structural Engineer | 93,000 – 115,000 | Christchurch |
| Senior Structural Engineer | 85,000 – 108,000 | Christchurch |
| Structural Engineer | 75,000 – 95,000 | Christchurch |
| Associate Bridge Engineer | 100,000 – 120,000 | Canterbury |
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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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