New Zealand’s average salary is often discussed but frequently misunderstood. The mean (average) is pulled up by high earners; the median (the income that exactly half of earners exceed) is a more useful benchmark. Here is the full picture for 2025–26.
The median full-time weekly earnings in NZ are approximately $1,350–$1,400/week ($70,200–$72,800/year) as of mid-2026. Among people with wage or salary income, the mean was about $70,000 in the year to March 2026 (Inland Revenue), skewed upward by high earners. The minimum wage is $23.95/hour (from 1 April 2026) and the living wage is $29.90/hour (from 1 September 2026).
Key NZ Income Benchmarks (2025–26)
| Benchmark | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage | $23.95/hour | Effective 1 April 2026 |
| Living wage | $29.90/hour | Living Wage Aotearoa NZ, effective 1 September 2026 |
| Median (all people, all income sources) | ~$50,000/year (~$962/week) | Stats NZ HLFS, June 2026 quarter |
| Median (full-time employees, wages/salaries) | ~$71,000–$72,000/year | Stats NZ HLFS |
| Mean (wage and salary earners) | ~$70,000/year | Inland Revenue, March 2026 year |
| Mean (full-time employees) | ~$85,000/year | Stats NZ |
| NZ Super (married couple, after tax) | $22,206/year each (~$44,412/year combined) | Work and Income, 1 April 2026 |
*Data sources: Stats NZ Household Labour Force Survey (HLFS), Household Income and Living Survey (HILS, which replaced the Household Economic Survey/HES from July 2024), Inland Revenue. Income figures are released once a year, so check stats.govt.nz for the latest release. The “all people” median is pulled down relative to the full-time-employee median because it includes part-time workers, beneficiaries, and retirees receiving NZ Super.
Median vs Mean: Why It Matters
The mean salary is calculated by adding all incomes and dividing by the number of earners. It is distorted by a small number of very high earners — a $5 million executive salary mathematically raises the “average” for everyone.
The median salary is the midpoint: exactly half of earners earn above it and half below. It is a better measure of what a typical New Zealander earns.
For NZ in 2025–26:
- Mean wage and salary income (wage and salary earners): ~$70,000
- Median individual income (all people, all income sources): ~$50,000
- The gap shows the upward skew caused by high earners, and the fact the “all people” figure includes part-time workers, beneficiaries, and retirees on NZ Super alongside full-time earners
Average Salary by NZ Region
Regional incomes vary significantly, driven by industry mix, cost of living, and labour demand:
| Region | Approximate Median | Approximate Mean |
|---|---|---|
| Auckland | $68,000 | $82,000 |
| Wellington | $75,000 | $90,000 |
| Christchurch / Canterbury | $63,000 | $74,000 |
| Hamilton / Waikato | $60,000 | $71,000 |
| Tauranga / Bay of Plenty | $62,000 | $73,000 |
| Dunedin / Otago | $58,000 | $69,000 |
| Hawke’s Bay | $56,000 | $66,000 |
| Nelson / Marlborough | $58,000 | $67,000 |
| Northland | $52,000 | $62,000 |
| Gisborne / Tairāwhiti | $50,000 | $60,000 |
| Southland / Invercargill | $58,000 | $68,000 |
These regional figures are approximate and are not tied to a named published dataset, so treat them as rough guides.
Average Salary by Age Group
Income typically rises through career development until the mid-50s, then may plateau or decline as some workers move to part-time:
| Age Group | Approximate Median (Full-Time) |
|---|---|
| 20–24 | $48,000 |
| 25–34 | $62,000 |
| 35–44 | $75,000 |
| 45–54 | $78,000 |
| 55–64 | $73,000 |
| 65+ | $55,000 (many part-time) |
Gender Pay Gap in NZ
New Zealand has a persistent but historically low gender pay gap. The latest Stats NZ data shows:
- Official gender pay gap: 5.3% as of the June 2026 quarter (Stats NZ, measured as the difference between men’s and women’s median hourly earnings from wages and salaries), up slightly from 5.2% in the June 2025 quarter — which remains the record low since Stats NZ began measuring the gap in 1998. The gap fell by 3.0 percentage points the year before and has been largely unchanged over the past year
- Drivers: occupational segregation (women concentrated in lower-paying sectors), more part-time work among women, career breaks for caregiving
Average Salary by Employment Type
| Employment Type | Approximate Median Annual Income |
|---|---|
| Full-time permanent employees | $71,000 |
| Part-time employees | $28,000 |
| Self-employed / contractors | $60,000 (highly variable) |
| Casual workers | $22,000–$35,000 |
| Government / public service | $72,000 |
| Private sector | $69,000 |
NZ Wage Growth Trends
Wages in New Zealand grew faster through 2021–2023: annual wage cost inflation reached 4.3% in the year to March 2023, the highest since the series began in 1992. Since 2024, growth has moderated:
- 2021: Wage growth ~5.1%
- 2022: Wage growth ~6.4% (near-record)
- 2023: Wage growth ~6.7%
- 2024: Wage growth ~3.2% (moderation as labour market loosened)
- 2025: Wage growth ~3.0% (broadly in line with CPI)
Real wage growth (after inflation) has been negative recently: in the year ended June 2026 the labour cost index rose 2.0 percent while consumer prices rose 4.1 percent.
How Does NZ Compare Internationally?
Compared with Australia:
- Australia: Australian national minimum wage is $26.44 AUD/hour (from 1 July 2026) vs NZ’s $23.95 NZD/hour (from 1 April 2026) — broadly similar once converted, though the exact gap moves with the exchange rate.
Average Salary by Occupation in NZ
Pay varies widely by occupation, from roles near the minimum wage to specialist and senior roles well above the median. Salary ranges for 100+ jobs across healthcare, technology, trades, finance, education and the public sector are in average salary by occupation in NZ.
Is Your Salary Above or Below Average?
Use the following benchmarks to position your income:
| Salary | Position in NZ income distribution |
|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | Bottom 20% of individual earners |
| $30,000–$45,000 | Bottom 20–35% |
| $45,000–$58,000 | Around the median (50th percentile) |
| $58,000–$80,000 | 50th–70th percentile |
| $80,000–$100,000 | 70th–80th percentile |
| $100,000–$140,000 | 80th–90th percentile |
| $140,000+ | Top 10% of individual earners |
| $200,000+ | Top 2–3% of individual earners |
For a personalised calculation, use our income percentile calculator.
What New Immigrants Earn vs Established Workers
Newcomers to NZ can earn less than equivalently qualified NZ-born workers at first, for reasons such as:
- Recognition of overseas qualifications can take time in regulated professions
After 5–10 years, most migrants with relevant qualifications close much of the gap.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary in New Zealand in 2026?
Among people with wage or salary income, the mean was about $70,000 in the year to March 2026 (Inland Revenue). The median across all people and income sources (including part-time workers, beneficiaries, and retirees on NZ Super) is approximately $50,000/year, or approximately $70,000–$73,000 for full-time employees specifically. Check stats.govt.nz for the latest quarterly figures.
What is the median household income in NZ?
Median household income (combining all earners in a household) is approximately $105,000–$115,000/year. This reflects the fact that many households have two income earners. The median equivalised household income (adjusted for household size) is lower.
Is $80,000 a good salary in NZ in 2026?
$80,000 is above the median and places you in approximately the top 30% of individual earners. In Auckland, $80,000 is workable but tight for homeownership given house prices. See good salary in NZ for a city-by-city analysis.
How much does the minimum wage increase affect average wages?
Minimum wage increases in NZ lift pay for the workers who earn below the new rates, which MBIE estimated at around 122,500 workers for the latest increase. The April 2026 increase to $23.95/hour flows through to the lower end of the wage distribution.
How do Stats NZ report average wages?
Stats NZ publishes labour market statistics quarterly through the Household Labour Force Survey (HLFS) and, since July 2024, household and individual income data through the Household Income and Living Survey (HILS), which replaced the Household Economic Survey (HES). Key income measures include median weekly earnings, median hourly earnings and the gender pay gap. Data is available at stats.govt.nz.