Any South Island software developers out there? Salaries.

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Aaryn015

104 posts

Master Geek

Topic # 124660 15-Jul-2013 13:44

Hi all,

I'm an Auckland-based software developer (Web - PHP/Java) and currently looking into a Role in Otago. Senior-level. 10 years experience.

I'm certain that the Auckland market offer salaries in line with the cost of living and are generally higher than much of the country. I have been straddling the 100k mark for 3 years now.

Does anyone have any experience or advice on salary expectations from moving from Auckland to the SI?

mattwnz

14482 posts

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Reply # 855846 15-Jul-2013 13:56

I suspect it will be quite a lot lower. But you may not need a salary that high, as the cost of living may be less, and property is a lot cheaper, so the amount you need to pay on a mortgage will be a lot less.

dclegg

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Reply # 855873 15-Jul-2013 14:32

Your question intrigues me, but from the reverse angle.

While I reside in Auckland, I've been contracting full-time to a US based company for the last few years, so am totally out of touch with what the current market pays. Are you saying that $100K is the norm for developers with 10+ years experience here?

FWIW, my primary experience is with Delphi, C#, SQL (various DB flavours), HTML, Javascript, and more recently Java. I'm also starting to work a bit with Objective-C, but am yet to graduate from "watch out, he's got a compiler!" to experienced with that one.

Aaryn015

104 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 855913 15-Jul-2013 15:22

dclegg: Are you saying that $100K is the norm for developers with 10+ years experience here?

Having looked into the web industry markets a lot recently - yes, at the top-ish end. If you found a bunch of senior web app devs with 10 years + under the belt, I would guess the average would be between 80-90.

Hell, even in trying to answer my own question I see senior development positions in the South Island offering 90k as their top limit.

I also looked at Aus some months ago. Sydney/Melbz were offering over 100k (AUD) quite frequently.

Just have a look at your own discipline on Seek to get an idea. I'm predominately PHP, the demand for that here has sky rocketed in the last couple of years.

Hope that helps.

jbard

1366 posts

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Reply # 855918 15-Jul-2013 15:28

Developer positions are rare in the South Island, especially in Otago. Their are some around but are usually quite popular. Don't often see salaries for senior positions go above 70K in my experience.

Cost of living really depends on your situation. If buying a house then it can be much cheaper down here, renting though cheaper here their isn't the same gap as with buying a house.

I would say the salaries in Auk/Wgt are higher than the extra cost of living.
If you can live in Otago and remote work for NI/Aus/Overseas you really get the best of everything.

dclegg

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Reply # 855922 15-Jul-2013 15:45

Aaryn015:
dclegg: Are you saying that $100K is the norm for developers with 10+ years experience here?

Having looked into the web industry markets a lot recently - yes, at the top-ish end. If you found a bunch of senior web app devs with 10 years + under the belt, I would guess the average would be between 80-90.

Hell, even in trying to answer my own question I see senior development positions in the South Island offering 90k as their top limit.

I also looked at Aus some months ago. Sydney/Melbz were offering over 100k (AUD) quite frequently.

Just have a look at your own discipline on Seek to get an idea. I'm predominately PHP, the demand for that here has sky rocketed in the last couple of years.

Hope that helps.

Thanks, that confirms my suspicions. I've been trying to do my own research, but so many job postings I've seen see don't offer any indication of salary range.

mattwnz

14482 posts

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Reply # 856017 15-Jul-2013 17:12

dclegg:
Thanks, that confirms my suspicions. I've been trying to do my own research, but so many job postings I've seen see don't offer any indication of salary range.

It seem rare for jobs these days to indicate salary. They often base it on experience.