How to become a payroll consultant
Official title: Payroll consultant
Also called: Payroll specialist, Payroll analyst, Payroll processing consultant, Payroll customer service consultant, Payroll compliance specialist, Payroll adviser
Payroll consultants review an organisation’s payroll system. They may research and develop policies, salary levels and superannuation plans.
Main tasks
- Review and improve payroll systems
- Make sure payroll systems follow laws
- Advise businesses on pay and benefits
- Analyse job roles and pay structures
- Manage payroll processes and data
- Prepare payroll reports for businesses
- Set up payroll management methods
- Assess how payroll policies work
How to become one
You usually need experience to become a payroll consultant and a qualification may be useful. You usually need NCEA Level 3 to do the study or training for this job. Other requirements: experience in similar work; a relevant tertiary qualification in accounting, banking and finance, business and management or similar area; knowledge of payroll systems.
Ways in
- Certificates and diplomas: Advanced certificates and diplomas in accounting. TEC links this job to study in accountancy. Qualifications: Dip in Commerce, NZ Dip in Business, Cert in Business Studies, Pathway Cert for MPA Entry. Usually 1 year. Graduates of these qualifications earn a median $53,000 a year one year after study and $60,000 five years after; 54% are employed one year after (TEC, from Stats NZ IDI data).; Advanced certificates and diplomas in banking and finance. TEC links this job to study in banking and finance. Qualifications: NZ Cert in Financial Services, Cert in Financial Advice. Usually 6 to 11 months. Graduates of these qualifications earn a median $75,000 a year one year after study; 81% are employed one year after (TEC, from Stats NZ IDI data).; Advanced certificates and diplomas in management and business studies. TEC links this job to study in business and management. Qualifications: NZ Dip in Business, Dip in Business Studies, Cert in Business Studies, Dip in Business, Dip in Commerce. Usually 1 year. Graduates of these qualifications earn a median $52,000 a year one year after study and $61,000 five years after; 61% are employed one year after (TEC, from Stats NZ IDI data).
Pay · Past change
- Most common pay: $66,000 to $98,000 a year (median $83,000), a TEC estimate before tax.
- Lower: $56,000 a year · Upper: $125,000 a year
- TEC's pay figures are estimates only. TEC says they must not be used to set pay, in pay negotiations or in visa applications.
- Change in the number of people doing this job between the 2018 and 2023 Censuses: Strong increase (TEC). This is past change, not a forecast.
Who does this work
- About 520 people did this job at the 2023 Census (TEC).
Related jobs
- Payroll manager
- Accountant and auditor
- Finance analyst
- Credit analyst
- Investment analyst
- Financial risk specialist
Not sure this is for you? Take the 2-minute career quiz
Questions people ask
How do I become a payroll consultant?
You usually need experience to become a payroll consultant and a qualification may be useful. You usually need NCEA Level 3 to do the study or training for this job. Other requirements: experience in similar work; a relevant tertiary qualification in accounting, banking and finance, business and management or similar area; knowledge of payroll systems.
How much does a payroll consultant earn in New Zealand?
The Tertiary Education Commission estimates median pay at $83,000 a year, before tax. Most common pay is $66,000 to $98,000 a year.
Has the number of people working as a payroll consultant grown in New Zealand?
It has grown strongly: TEC records a strong increase in the number of people doing this job between the 2018 and 2023 Censuses. This is past change, not a forecast.
Sources
- Tertiary Education Commission (Tahatu Career Navigator): Tahatu career ideas: descriptions, tasks, pay estimates, people employed, employment change 2018 to 2023, entry requirements, registration, interest scores (Site scrape 2026-10 (816 career ideas, sitemap lastmod 2026-10-01)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 4 October 2026
This content is sourced from the Tertiary Education Commission through the Tahatū Career Navigator website (www.tahatu.govt.nz) and used under the CC BY 4.0 licence. All or some of the information has been modified by Peernovo. TEC has not approved, endorsed or tested these modifications. TEC will not be held accountable for any errors within this content.
Qualification information from NZQA, used under CC BY 3.0 NZ.
This work is based on/includes Stats NZ's data which are licensed by Stats NZ for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. Census data via Figure.NZ.
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Sources: Tertiary Education Commission, Tahatū Career Navigator (career ideas, pay estimates, entry requirements and study options, CC BY 4.0, modified by Peernovo); Stats NZ, 2023 Census (via Figure.NZ) and the National Occupation List (CC BY 4.0); NZQA qualification information (CC BY 3.0 NZ); O*NET interest scores (CC BY 4.0); ILO global generative AI exposure index (CC BY 4.0). Links between career ideas and ANZSCO groups, degree fields and broad job groups are Peernovo's.
These results are not official statistics. They have been created for research purposes from the Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI), which is carefully managed by Stats NZ.
Graduate outcomes: these results are not official statistics. They have been created for research purposes from the Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI), which is carefully managed by Stats NZ.
Updated 4 October 2026