20 hrs/week
Training minimum wage
$383.20/wk · $19,926.40/yr
Starting-out minimum wage
$383.20/wk · $19,926.40/yr
All New Zealand minimum wage comparisons
Tie at $19.16/hr · 2026
Training minimum wagevsStarting-out minimum wageMinimum Wage 2026
Training minimum wage and Starting-out minimum wage share the same statutory minimum wage of $19.16/hour in 2026. Eligibility still differs — compare who qualifies below and on each type page.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026
$19.16Training minimum wage
$19.16Starting-out minimum wage
TieSame floor
—FT annual gap
Scoreboard — tie · 2026
Training minimum wage
$19.16/hr
$39,852.80/yr FT · effective 1 April 2026
Starting-out minimum wage
$19.16/hr
$39,852.80/yr FT · effective 1 April 2026
Why it's a tie
- Both types share the same statutory minimum of $19.16/hr.
- Eligibility still differs — check who qualifies for each type on Employment New Zealand.
- Use hourly and New Zealand tax tools for take-home differences.
Side-by-side metrics
| Metric | Training minimum wage | Starting-out minimum wage |
|---|---|---|
| Statutory minimum | $19.16/hr | $19.16/hr |
| FT annual gross (40×52) | $39,852.80 | $39,852.80 |
| Adult minimum wage type | No | No |
| Eligibility | Employees aged 20 or over whose employment agreement requires at least 60 credits a year of an industry training programme to become qualified (often apprentices) | Employees under 20 in specific starting-out situations (for example 16–17 year olds in their first 6 months with an employer, or 16–19 year olds required to complete at least 40 industry training credits a year) |
Pay by hours/week
Gross pay at each type's statutory minimum (before PAYE, ACC, and KiwiSaver).
| Hours | Training minimum wage / wk | Starting-out minimum wage / wk | Training minimum wage / yr | Starting-out minimum wage / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 hrs | $383.20 | $383.20 | $19,926.40 | $19,926.40 |
| 30 hrs | $574.80 | $574.80 | $29,889.60 | $29,889.60 |
| 40 hrs | $766.40 | $766.40 | $39,852.80 | $39,852.80 |
30 hrs/week
Training minimum wage
$574.80/wk · $29,889.60/yr
Starting-out minimum wage
$574.80/wk · $29,889.60/yr
40 hrs/week
Training minimum wage
$766.40/wk · $39,852.80/yr
Starting-out minimum wage
$766.40/wk · $39,852.80/yr
Pros & caveats
Training minimum wage
Pros
- Same hourly floor as Starting-out minimum wage ($19.16)
- Employees aged 20 or over whose employment agreement requires at least 60 credits a year of an industry training programme to become qualified (often apprentices)
Cons / caveats
- Set at 80% of the adult minimum wage. Informal on-the-job induction alone does not qualify — the employee must be in …
Starting-out minimum wage
Pros
- Same hourly floor as Training minimum wage ($19.16)
- Employees under 20 in specific starting-out situations (for example 16–17 year olds in their first 6 months with an employer, or 16–19 year olds required to complete at least 40 industry training credits a year)
Cons / caveats
- Set at 80% of the adult minimum wage. Does not apply if supervising or training other workers is part of the role — t…
Planning guide
How to read the Training minimum wage vs Starting-out minimum wage minimum wage comparison
Training minimum wage and Starting-out minimum wage share the same statutory floor in 2026. Eligibility can still diverge.
Statutory floor
Training minimum wage $19.16/hr vs Starting-out minimum wage $19.16/hr
FT annual gap
Same gross at 40 hrs/week on the statutory floor
Nationwide
Same adult, starting-out, and training floors across New Zealand
Adult context
Adult minimum wage (16+) is $23.95/hr
Before you use this Training minimum wage vs Starting-out minimum wage wage gap
Confirm eligibility
Age and training status determine which statutory type applies.
National rates
Statutory floors are set nationally under the Minimum Wage Act 1983.
Check effective dates
Rates are for 2026. New Zealand minimum wage usually updates every 1 April.
Model take-home next
Convert hours with the hourly calculator, then compare New Zealand tax take-home for net pay.
Adult vs starting-out & training
The adult minimum wage ($23.95/hour for ages 16+) is the highest statutory type. Starting-out and training are set at 80% of adult with different eligibility. This comparison ranks statutory types only. KiwiSaver employer contributions sit on top of the minimum wage.
Overview
Training minimum wage and Starting-out minimum wage share the same statutory minimum wage of $19.16/hour in 2026. Eligibility still differs — compare who qualifies below and on each type page.
FAQ
They tie at $19.16/hour in 2026.
Floors match, so FT gross at the statutory minimum is the same ($39,852.80/year at 40 hrs). Eligibility may still differ.
Training minimum wage: Employees aged 20 or over whose employment agreement requires at least 60 credits a year of an industry training programme to become qualified (often apprentices). Starting-out minimum wage: Employees under 20 in specific starting-out situations (for example 16–17 year olds in their first 6 months with an employer, or 16–19 year olds required to complete at least 40 industry training credits a year).
No statutory minimum wage applies to employees under 16. From age 16, starting-out or adult rates apply depending on the situation.
Yes. Rates reflect our 2026 New Zealand minimum wage tracker (last reviewed against Employment NZ publications). Laws usually change on 1 April — verify before payroll changes.
Convert hours with our hourly salary calculator, then run the result through the New Zealand tax calculator for PAYE, ACC, and KiwiSaver. Minimum wage figures here are gross floors, not net pay.
No. Employer KiwiSaver contributions must be paid on top of at least the minimum wage and cannot be counted toward meeting it.
The ladder shows weekly and annual gross at common hour counts. At 40 hours we use Employment NZ’s published weekly figure for each type; other hours use hourly × hours. Overtime and tips are not included.
Use related links below, the reverse matchup (Starting-out minimum wage vs Training minimum wage), or the NZ minimum wage compare hub picker for any two types.
Compare take-home too
Wage floors are only half the story. See New Zealand take-home vs countries and the New Zealand tax calculator for PAYE, ACC, and KiwiSaver at the same salary.
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