Casual vs Permanent Calculator NZ

This calculator helps you compare a casual role's higher hourly rate against a permanent role's paid leave and job security, so you can see which one pays more over a year in New Zealand. Casual employees are usually paid more per hour partly because holiday pay is rolled into the rate as an 8% loading, rather than taken later as paid leave. Permanent employees are paid a lower base rate but get four weeks of paid annual leave and public holidays on top, plus far more job security. You enter the casual hourly rate, the permanent hourly rate, the hours you work each week, and the weeks a year you actually work as a casual, since casuals are not paid for time off. The calculator works out your likely annual earnings under each arrangement, showing the casual total, the permanent total including its paid leave, and a plain verdict on which one earns more in cash terms before you weigh up sick leave and security. Use it to test different rate gaps and hours to see how big the casual loading needs to be to genuinely outweigh a permanent role's paid leave. Remember this only compares take-home cash; it does not put a dollar value on sick leave, guaranteed hours or the stability of a permanent contract, which you need to weigh up yourself. Figures are estimates for comparison only.

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Casual earns more in cash
on annual earnings (before valuing security)
Casual per year$63,360
Permanent per year (incl paid leave)$62,400

Permanent earnings assume you are paid 52 weeks (including 4 weeks annual leave and public holidays); casual assumes you are only paid for weeks worked, with holiday pay rolled in. This is the cash comparison; permanent roles also offer sick leave and security that are hard to value. Estimate only.

How it works

The calculator multiplies the casual rate by your hours and the weeks you actually work (casuals are not paid for time off), and the permanent rate by your hours across the full 52 paid weeks (permanent staff are paid for annual leave and public holidays). Comparing the two annual figures shows whether the casual loading really makes up for the paid weeks a permanent role gives you, before you even value sick leave and security.

Worked example

At $33 casual over 48 paid weeks, you earn about $63,360. At $30 permanent over 52 paid weeks, about $62,400, plus sick leave and security. The casual edge here is small once the permanent role's paid leave is counted.

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Frequently asked questions

Does casual pay make up for no leave?

Casual work usually pays a higher hourly rate, partly because holiday pay is included as an 8% loading rather than taken as paid leave. Whether the higher rate makes up for missing sick leave, public holidays and job security depends on the gap and how much you would use those entitlements.

What do permanent staff get that casuals do not?

Permanent employees get paid annual leave, sick leave, bereavement leave, paid public holidays and more job security. Casuals are paid for hours worked, often with holiday pay rolled in, but without guaranteed hours.

How do I compare the two fairly?

Compare the annual earnings, but value the permanent role's paid leave (weeks you are paid without working) and the security of guaranteed hours. This calculator shows the earnings side so you can weigh it against the non-pay benefits.