Based on 2 submissions across Aotearoa
Designs and builds machine learning models and AI systems that solve real business problems. Works on data pipelines, model training, evaluation, and deployment in production. Increasingly in demand as New Zealand companies adopt AI. Typical work involves cleaning and preparing datasets, training models, and measuring accuracy against business goals. The role calls for a mix of software engineering, statistics, and a practical understanding of how AI models behave in the real world. The field moves quickly, so staying current with new model families and tooling is part of the job. Strong communication matters too, since results only create value when they are understood and trusted by the people who use them.
Base salary + bonuses, based on 2 submissions
Based on 2 anonymous submissions
Across 2 anonymous submissions, the median total salary for a AI / Machine Learning Engineer in New Zealand is $132,750 per year. Total remuneration ranges from about $115,750 (10th percentile) to $149,750 (90th percentile).
A full-time median of $132,750 per year compares with the NZ minimum wage of $49,816 per year and the living wage of $62,192 per year.
Median pay by experience: Mid (3-5 Yrs) $108,000, Senior (6-9 Yrs) $145,000.
Based on 2 submissions
Median salary progression