Executive and Senior Management
Includes After Sales Managers, Dealer Principals, General Managers, Service Directors
Updated May 2024
Employers are encouraged to communicate with our consulting team for more guidance on current wage and salary rates. Attention to specific regional areas hard hit by skills shortages or the seniority of employees should be taken into account. Automotive Employment NZ Ltd has 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.
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 workplace. Your work performance, the stability of overall employment, knowledge of the 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.
Offshore 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.
After Sales Manager
In a smaller franchise site with 15 or less staff where the manager holds both the Parts and Service Manager, this role generally remunerates between $100,000 and $150,000.
Larger operations where the After Sales Manager has a Parts and Service Manager reporting to them generally remunerates around $130,000 to $225,000.
Commonly there is a base salary and a portion of at-risk income. A company car is standard.
Service Director
Assuming the role has multi-branch reports, Service Director roles range from $150,000 to $250,000. These roles surface in larger groups with a portion of at-risk income. A higher standard company car is provided.
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Salaries range between $150,000 to $450,000. A huge variance exists dependent on the size of the operation. Multi-site financial responsibility with significant strategic planning involvement for an example will obviously attract rates higher than a stand-alone site. Vacancies at the higher end are extremely rare and likely only ever available in the NZ motor industry’s largest corporate companies.
Dealer Principal (franchise dealerships)
Employees or job seekers in this field need to consider roles can differ significantly when it comes to the responsibilities held. So too can remuneration. Your experience, proven record of achievement, and responsibilities may all combine to provide an income both greater and less than indicated below.
15 to 20 staff – income circa $150,000 to $225,000. The package will have an element of at-risk content, with a base of $100,000 to $120,000 with the remainder at-risk. The role includes a company vehicle. Such roles are perhaps more correctly referred to as Branch Managers.
20 to 30 staff – income circa $160,000 to $275,000 with a base that increases to around $120,000 to $130,000 but will still include some at-risk content.
30 to 50 staff – income circa $170,000 to $350,000 where the base will range around $140,000 and the total income estimation will be dependent on achieving predetermined KPI’s.
50 to 70 staff – income circa $250,000 to $380,000. The base increases to approximately $150,000 to $170,000 and the total income estimation will be dependent on achieving predetermined KPI’s.
70 to 90 staff – income circa $270,000 to $400,000. The base will likely range between $160,000 to $200,000. Achievement of the total income estimation will be dependent on achieving predetermined KPI’s.
90 to 250 staff – income circa $300,000 to $550,000. The base likely to increase to $180,000 to $250,000.
An individual assessment of each role is required as location and the style of operation will contribute to the overall findings, contact Russell Phillips for more details.
Higher executive roles
Contact Automotive Employment Director
Higher executive roles use Trans-Tasman guidelines established by a network of Australasian executive automotive recruiters. Russell Phillips is a NZ member of this network and can establish reliable guidelines.
General and regional management in other sectors of the motor industry
Variances in responsibility exist between aftermarket and OEM operations.
It is impossible to provide one broad brush covering rates in this area which will be open to debate. Instead, employers seeking guidance in this area as to how to scope appropriate rates should discuss requirements and likely available talent with Automotive Employment Director, Russell Phillips.
Once we have completed an assessment of responsibilities, we will be able to provide our opinion of the remuneration scale. 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. Full use of a company car is standard with such roles.
In some cases, packages at the upper end include medical insurance and superannuation.
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