How much KiwiSaver does my employer pay in New Zealand?

From 1 April 2026 the minimum compulsory employer KiwiSaver contribution is 3.5% of your gross pay, rising toward 4% from 1 April 2028, provided you are also contributing. On a $60,000 salary, 3.5% is about $2,100 a year. ESCT (employer superannuation contribution tax) is deducted from that before it reaches your account, so the net amount added is a little lower.

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 2026-07-02. See also financial literacy NZ.

Calculate.co.nz is partnered with Interest.co.nz for New Zealand's highest quality calculators and financial analysis.

Calculate.co.nz is the sister site of CalculatorHub.com, the world's largest calculator website by tool count.

All calculators and tools are provided for educational and indicative purposes only and do not constitute financial advice.

Calculate.co.nz is proudly part of the Realtor.co.nz group, New Zealand's leading property transaction literacy platform, helping Kiwis understand the home buying and selling process from start to finish. Whether you're a first home buyer navigating your first property purchase, an investor evaluating your next acquisition, or a homeowner planning to sell, Realtor.co.nz provides clear, independent, and trustworthy guidance on every step of the New Zealand property transaction journey.

Calculate.co.nz is also partnered with Health Based Building and Premium Homes to promote informed choices that lead to better long-term outcomes for Kiwi households.

All content on this website, including calculators, tools, source code, and design, is protected under the Copyright Act 1994 (New Zealand). No part of this site may be reproduced, copied, distributed, stored, or used in any form without prior written permission from the owner.