For electricians, plumbers, HVAC techs, builders, painters, roofers, and more. Enter your income goal, overhead, and hours to get your recommended hourly rate for NZ or Australia.
Free. No signup required.
Select your trade and country, then enter your income goal, overhead, and hours. Results update when you click Calculate.
Check IRD for your bracket.
10–20% is typical for a sole trader.
All rates are GST-exclusive per hour for sole traders (2026).
| Trade | NZ (NZD/hr) | AU (AUD/hr) |
|---|---|---|
| Electrician | $85–$130 | $95–$150 |
| Plumber | $90–$140 | $100–$160 |
| Gasfitter | $90–$140 | $100–$160 |
| HVAC Technician | $85–$130 | $90–$150 |
| Builder / Carpenter | $75–$120 | $85–$140 |
| Painter | $60–$95 | $65–$110 |
| Roofer | $70–$110 | $75–$130 |
| Landscaper | $60–$90 | $65–$100 |
These are indicative market ranges for 2026. Rates vary by location, specialisation, experience, and market conditions. Use the calculator above for a rate based on your actual costs.
NZ tradie rates depend on the trade: electricians $85–$130, plumbers $90–$140, builders $75–$120, painters $60–$95 — all GST-exclusive per hour. Use the calculator above for a rate based on your actual costs.
Take-home income → gross up for tax → add overhead → divide by billable hours → add profit margin. The calculator does all of this automatically.
GST registration is mandatory once turnover exceeds $60,000/yr. Add 15% on top of your rate and show it separately on invoices. Most tradies exceed this threshold.
A realistic estimate is 1,200–1,400 hours per year (46 weeks × 26–30 billable hrs). Allow for travel, quoting, admin, and materials runs — not every hour in the day is billable.
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