Diesel Mechanics to Heavy Diesel Service Managers
Heavy Equipment/Heavy Transport/Forestry/Forklifts/Farm Machinery/Road Paving Equipment/ Mining and Recreational Marine Diesel: Includes support and Service Management roles

Wage and Salary rates as at May 2011.

Since our last survey there has been an increase in wage rates for many of the categories listed below. This increase occurs after a short period of wages declining when we last reported in May 2009.

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.

For those who will be reading this online at a later date and have not received our newsletter via email, please also check the date the last salary review was completed as salary rates obviously change over a period of time. 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.

Heavy Diesel Mechanics Trucks
Includes: Trucks/HCV,
Median rate for new hires $26.00

Most positions in NZ pay between $20 and $32 per hour. Companies vary in their overtime policies with some paying a slightly lower hourly rate with overtime between 1.5 and 1.6 of the base rate where others choose a higher flat rate of pay.

Heavy Diesel Mechanics Construction Equipment.
Median rate $28 per hour

This sector of industry has been heavily impacted in recent times due to mining companies actively recruiting in New Zealand. Unit sales of construction equipment machinery were however low during 2009 and 2010 in NZ due to the global financial crisis, this has had a moderating effect on wages. Wage increases are none the less evident in 2011.

Most positions in NZ pay between $24 and $34 per hour. Companies vary in their overtime policies with some paying a slightly lower hourly rate with overtime between 1.5 and 1.6 of the base rate where others choose a higher flat rate of pay.

Field service roles include use of a company vehicle.

Construction Equipment, Forestry Equipment, Road Paving Machinery, Farm Machinery, and Recreational Marine Diesel and Mining Equipment.

Forklift Mechanics: IE and IC Trucks
Median $26 per hour

IE meaning industrial electric and IC meaning Industrial combustion. Dependant on the level of skill and experience, these roles are paying between $22 and $32 per hour. Experience on I.E. forklifts [industrial electric] forklifts is a little more difficult to secure than the more generalist, Diesel / LPG skills so highly skilled technicians with this knowledge tend to be paid toward the upper end of the scale, current average for I.E. Forklift technicians is $28 per hour. The IC sector average is $26 per hour however this is assuming the employee possesses strong generalist knowledge. Excessive movement between jobs or poor employer verbal references have a profound effect on rates in the current climate as does lack of polished communication skills which may prevent an employer placing an employee in a field service role.

Farm Machinery Mechanics,
Median rate 27 per hour

Most positions in NZ pay between $24 and $32 per hour. Companies vary in their overtime policies with some paying a slightly lower hourly rate with overtime between 1.5 and 1.6 of the base rate where others choose a higher flat rate of pay.

Workshop Foreperson/Supervisor
Median $32 per hour

Generally defined as a role that assists the Service Manager or a second in charge, many of these roles do not require hands on repair work. There are exceptions and some companies may have the foreperson up to 50% productive.

New hires remunerate from $28 to $34 per hour and more often than not the employee is provided with a company vehicle. It is possible some of the smaller cities and towns may pay a little less and reflects the lower cost of living expenses in these locations. Usually a utility vehicle is supplied.

Heavy Diesel Warranty Administrators/Fleet Controllers
Median $58,000 PA

These roles are almost always secured by Trade Qualified Mechanics in New Zealand. The position is administrative and employees possess accomplished communication skills, IT literacy and technical knowledge. The position usually pays between $50,000 and $67,000. The role does not usually command a company vehicle, although it is not unheard of.

Loss Adjusters
Median $65,000 PA

While these roles are fairly rare in NZ, they involve investigation of insurance claims to a range of heavy Diesel Equipment. Candidates securing these roles are rarely brought in from off shore due to their popularity and availability of New Zealand based skills. The role pays between $55,000 and $70,000 in the current market. There will enviably be variances in rates due to the rarity of roles available.

Heavy Diesel Service Managers
Median $85,000

Responsible for total management of the workshop and profit centre, Service Managers are paid between $60,000 in the smaller workshops and sometimes up to $140,000 in some flagship sites. It is rare for employees to be at the upper end of this scale but good heavy diesel services managers in NZ are hard to come by so some companies are now "locking" top performers in by paying above the norm for their skills. Please note the upper end of the scale is usually paid to service managers with over 50 staff and even then these positions are hard to find.

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