Includes: Intermediate Supervisors, Support Staff and Service Management.

Wage and Salary rates as at May 2011.

Please note: as Automotive Employment NZ Ltd is involved with new hires, these rates are for new hires not existing employees. We have attempted to be as accurate as possible and to provide guidelines for the most popular sectors of the New Zealand motor industry but take no responsibility for the accuracy of the information. Any hiring decision should be based on a range of knowledge from a variety of sources.

It is possible our opinion will differ from other independent surveys however the information is based on actual hires occurring through Automotive Employment NZ Ltd. All rates assume experience in a specific fields of expertise and where applicable the relevant industry qualifications.

Employees should note that while these rates may provide a guide, to gain an accurate indication of rates you may need to consider how your skills and experience compare to others in the work place. Your work performance, stability of overall employment, knowledge of product, development of your skills and or qualifications, personal grooming, communication skills and the length of service you have extended to your current employer may all impact on potential earnings. These aspects of your employment should also be weighed against the economic conditions prevailing in the location you work or intend to move to.

Off shore candidates should note rates and salaries are quoted in New Zealand dollars. Please also check the date above as information provided is current only to this date.

Automotive Technicians/Mechanics Light Automotive
Median rate $24 per hour

Trade qualified Automotive Technicians are presently paid NZ$19 to $30 per hour for new hires.

The upper end of this scale is for master technicians with specific franchise diagnostic skills and five years plus experience with one marque. Other factors effecting rates are population density or a specific difficulty in securing skills due to a particularly remote location. As a rule of thumb, the larger the population the higher the rates, the higher cost of living in these centers is usually the income driver. The lower rates are normally paid where an employer has concerns as to the depth of skill held by the employee or a more transient or poor employment history. Trainees or apprentices should expect to commence on rates considerably lower than the rates shown.

In locations outside the main centers where the cost of living is lower skilled automotive technicians may expect to secure $20 to $25 per hour. There are always exceptions but even in areas outside the main centers we have observed a median rate is $22 per hour. European dealerships tend to pay toward the top end of the scale.

Employees should note that there are many aspects relevant to employers in structuring wages rates and principal among these is the ability to gain a return from your skills. Tenure of employment, your productivity, technical skills and qualification extensions such as an AVI certificate or A Tech qualifications may all contribute to earnings.

Team Leaders/Forepersons
Median rate $28 per hour

Responsible for technical supervision of staff, technical training and sometimes a content of hands on work, the team leader may work as much as 50% on tools [occasionally 100% off tools]. Employees will note the title and duties of this role are not consistent throughout the industry. Assuming however that it is a senior technical role as described above, the rates vary between $25 and $33 per hour. The top end of this scale would be for a master technician with combined hands on technical and supervisory responsibilities or for technicians employed in areas that are deemed hard to fill. The top end rates are usually only paid in Auckland in very few dealerships where these top end, brand specific skills are still hard to secure.

Automotive Service Advisors/Service Writers/Service Consultants
Median rate of pay $52,000 per annum

Service advisors are defined as trade qualified automotive technicians who are employed in front line roles. The positions often include up selling service and liaison regarding technical issues as well as costing, invoicing and dealing directly with the customer.

Salaries range from $47,000 per annum at the lower levels to $62000 PA at the upper end. Service advisors at the lower end of the salary scale tend to have secured employment with smaller satellite operations or are working in regions with smaller populations. Candidates operating from large flagship franchises tend to be earning $50,000 to $60000.

While there have been exceptions, the upper end of this scale is usually paid by luxury prestige franchise dealerships to service advisors with specific product skills.

The roles in some cases include a company car and companies are not unknown to include a performance bonus as a portion of the income. Such bonuses are usually paid out in line with key performance indicators such as labour sales etc. Companies outside the main cities in New Zealand will often remunerate towards the lower end reflecting the lower cost of living outside main centers.

Service Controllers
Median rate of pay $53,000

Service Controllers are responsible for distribution and control of incoming work to the technicians, employees are trade qualified automotive technicians [mechanics] Often a service controller will be called in to work on tools in times of staff shortages or peak periods. Very occasionally service controllers are provided with a company car. The pay scales range between $50,000 and $60,000 dependant largely on the location of the site and reflective of the lower cost of living outside the main centers.

Service Receptionists
Median rate of pay $47,000

Defined as front line receptionists in a service department these employees are generally not trade qualified. The role is meeting and greeting the customer, booking in vehicles, liaising with customers re delivery, invoicing and customer follow up. The role is salaried and pays between $43,000 and $50,000.

Vehicle testing inspectors [MOT, AVI, COF] Roadworthiness Inspectors
Median rate $22 per hour

Responsible for ensuring vehicles comply with government, NZTA standards as to roadworthiness and the issuing of "warrant of fitness" and "certificate of fitness".

The roles range from $19 per hour in the regions up to $31.00 per hour for COF B accreditation. New employees from outside New Zealand usually commence at the lower end and cannot commence inspections until an AVI certificate [authorised vehicle inspectors certificate] is attained. Technicians are required to have a minimum of five years recent experience as a technician to qualify.

COF inspectors secure a higher hourly rate due to previous experience in the heavy diesel sector.

Warranty Claims Administrators/Fleet Maintenance Controllers
Median rate $50,000

The roles tend to have a wide variance around $46,000 to $60,000. Leasing companies tend to be at the higher end, distributors in the middle and aftermarket warranty companies either on or near the median rate. We note that employees may find the upper end of these wage rates difficult to secure.

These roles are rarely found outside Auckland as many of these companies are located in Auckland. Candidates/employees possessing heavy diesel skills and able to provide these services in the heavy diesel sector maybe paid a higher amount. This is due to the higher rates that are generally paid to Diesel Mechanics.

Assistant Service Managers
Median Salary $60,000

This is usually a second in charge role to the service manager. Pay rates range from $55,000 to $85,000. It is noted the larger the responsibility in terms of staff management responsibilities the larger the income. Employees working for small satellite sites for an example would tend to the lower end of the pay scale. An assistant Service Manager operating in one of New Zealand's larger dealership may secure a salary towards the upper end of this scale. A company car is the norm for assistant service managers.

In recent times it is quite common for employers to link a content of the aforementioned income to the achievement of Key performance indicators [KPI's]

Service Managers
Median Salary $85,000

Responsible for total control of the workshop operations and the service department profit centre, service managers can be paid as little as $60,000 P/A to as much as $145,000. At the lower end of the scale applicants would be employed at a site with five or less employees.

Upper end service managers may have responsibilities for as many as 60 plus technical personnel. The larger dealerships tend to have a base salary coupled with performance based bonuses paid on a percentage of the department's profit to make up the total income. A company car is standard with such roles as is a cell phone. Packages at the upper end in some cases include medical insurance and superannuation.

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