How much KiwiSaver does my employer pay in New Zealand?
This page explains the compulsory KiwiSaver contribution your employer must pay on top of your own, and what actually determines the dollar amount you receive. From 1 April 2026 employers must contribute at least 3.5% of your gross pay, provided you are also contributing at least 3%, with that minimum rising toward 4% from 1 April 2028. Because it is calculated on gross pay, a pay rise or extra hours also lifts what your employer puts in. Before the money reaches your KiwiSaver account, ESCT (employer superannuation contribution tax) is deducted at a rate based on your total income, trimming the net amount you actually receive. Not every employer sticks to the minimum: some pay a higher rate as a benefit, and some use a total remuneration structure where your contribution is drawn from an agreed total package rather than added on top, so check your employment agreement or payslip to see which applies to you. To put real numbers to your own situation, use the KiwiSaver Calculator below to project how employer contributions build your balance over time, the ESCT rate by income tool to see how much tax is deducted from that contribution, and the Contribution Rate Calculator to compare outcomes at different contribution levels. Figures here are indicative only, based on current New Zealand settings, and are not financial advice.
Work it out
- KiwiSaver Calculator: project your balance with employer contributions
- ESCT rate by income: the tax on the employer contribution
- Contribution Rate Calculator
Indicative only, not financial advice. Uses current New Zealand rates for 2026/27. Last reviewed 2026-08-31. See also financial literacy NZ.