Based on 1 submission across Aotearoa — Full-time Permanent roles only
Operates diggers and excavators to move earth, dig foundations, and prepare sites. Reads plans, follows safety procedures, and maintains the machine. A key role in New Zealand civil construction, roading, and earthmoving. Operators need current digger tickets and, on many sites, site-safety certification such as Site Safe. Experience across different machine sizes makes it easier to move between civil, residential, and infrastructure projects. Good operators read the ground and the machine together, protecting both. Consistency and a clean safety record are what keep operators working across the biggest sites.
Base salary + bonuses, based on 1 submissions
Based on 1 anonymous submissions
Across 1 anonymous submissions, the median total salary for a Excavator Operator in New Zealand is $70,000 per year. Total remuneration ranges from about $70,000 (10th percentile) to $70,000 (90th percentile).
A full-time median of $70,000 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) $68,000.
Based on 1 submissions
Median salary progression