$42,000 after tax in NZ (2026–27)
On a $42,000 salary you pay $6,993.00 in PAYE ($6,258.00 income tax and $735.00 ACC levy), leaving $35,007 a year after tax, or $673.21 a week. With the default 3.5% KiwiSaver contribution, $1,289.88 a fortnight ($33,537 a year) reaches your bank account.
$42,000 salary breakdown
| Year | Month | Fortnight | Week | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $42,000 | $3,500.00 | $1,615.38 | $807.69 |
| Income tax | $6,258 | $521.50 | $240.69 | $120.35 |
| ACC earners' levy | $735 | $61.25 | $28.27 | $14.13 |
| KiwiSaver (3.5%) | $1,470 | $122.50 | $56.54 | $28.27 |
| Take-home pay | $33,537 | $2,794.75 | $1,289.88 | $644.94 |
Your average PAYE rate is 16.7%. The next dollar you earn is in the 17.5% bracket, so with ACC and KiwiSaver your marginal deduction rate is 22.8%.
How the PAYE is worked out
- 10.5% of $15,600 = $1,638.00
- 17.5% of $26,400 = $4,620.00
- Income tax $6,258.00 plus ACC levy of $735.00 (1.75% of $42,000) = PAYE of $6,993.00.
With other KiwiSaver rates, a student loan or IETC
| Take-home a year | A fortnight | A week | Difference a week | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not in KiwiSaver | $35,007 | $1,346.42 | $673.21 | +$28.27 |
| 3% KiwiSaver (temporary) | $33,747 | $1,297.96 | $648.98 | +$4.04 |
| 3.5% KiwiSaver (default) | $33,537 | $1,289.88 | $644.94 | — |
| 4% KiwiSaver | $33,327 | $1,281.81 | $640.90 | −$4.04 |
| 6% KiwiSaver | $32,487 | $1,249.50 | $624.75 | −$20.19 |
| 8% KiwiSaver | $31,647 | $1,217.19 | $608.60 | −$36.35 |
| 10% KiwiSaver | $30,807 | $1,184.88 | $592.44 | −$52.50 |
| 3.5% KiwiSaver + student loan | $31,392 | $1,207.40 | $603.70 | −$41.24 |
| 3.5% KiwiSaver + IETC (tax code ME) | $34,057 | $1,309.88 | $654.94 | +$10.00 |
What goes into your KiwiSaver
| A year | A week | |
|---|---|---|
| You (3.5%) | $1,470.00 | $28.27 |
| Employer (3.5%) | $1,470.00 | $28.27 |
| less ESCT at 17.5% | −$257.25 | −$4.95 |
| Government contribution | $260.72 | — |
| Total into your account | $2,943.47 | $56.61 |
Second jobs and hourly rate
With $42,000 from your main job, a second job would be taxed on code S (19.25% including ACC), or a higher code if it lifts your total income over $53,500. $42,000 works out at $20.19 an hour for a 40-hour week, below the $23.95 adult minimum wage, so this salary assumes fewer hours. A $1,000 pay rise would add $773 a year to your take-home ($14.86 a week). See the hourly wage calculator or pay rise calculator.
FAQ
How much is $42,000 a week after tax in NZ?
$673.21 a week after PAYE and ACC on tax code M in 2026–27, or $644.94 after 3.5% KiwiSaver as well. That is $1,346.42 or $1,289.88 a fortnight.
How much tax do I pay on $42,000?
$6,258.00 of income tax and $735.00 of ACC earners' levy, so $6,993.00 of PAYE a year: 16.7% of your salary.
What is $42,000 a year per hour?
$20.19 an hour at 40 hours a week (2,080 hours a year). After PAYE and ACC that is $16.83 an hour.
How much goes into KiwiSaver on $42,000?
$1,470 from you at 3.5%, $1,213 from your employer after ESCT at 17.5%, and $260.72 from the government: $2,943 a year.