Enter your annual gross income to see where you rank among New Zealand wage and salary earners, based on Inland Revenue’s wage and salary income distribution data for the year ended 31 March 2026.
The median individual wage or salary income in New Zealand was $61,958 for the year ended 31 March 2026. Earning $100,000 puts you at about the 78th percentile, roughly the top 22% of earners. $134,568 is the top 10%, and $169,365 the top 5%. These figures cover everyone with wage or salary income, including part-time workers, so full-time-only thresholds sit somewhat higher.
Income Percentile Calculator
NZ Income Distribution Table
The table below shows the decile and percentile boundaries for individual wage and salary income in New Zealand, from Inland Revenue data covering 2,840,300 individuals in the year ended 31 March 2026.
| Annual Income | Percentile | Top % of Earners |
|---|---|---|
| $6,880 | 10th | Top 90% |
| $19,376 | 20th | Top 80% |
| $35,007 | 30th | Top 70% |
| $50,111 | 40th | Top 60% |
| $61,958 | 50th (median) | Top 50% |
| $72,723 | 60th | Top 40% |
| $85,546 | 70th | Top 30% |
| $103,897 | 80th | Top 20% |
| $134,568 | 90th | Top 10% |
| $169,365 | 95th | Top 5% |
| $289,186 | 99th | Top 1% |
Source: Inland Revenue, “Wage and salary distributions for individuals” (year ended 31 March 2026). Total wage and salary income across all earners was $199.7 billion, giving a mean of about $70,309. The mean sits well above the median because a relatively small number of very high earners pull the average up.
Includes all individuals with wage or salary income, including part-time and casual workers. Ranked only against full-time workers, a given salary would sit lower; see below.
All Earners vs Full-Time Employees
Income percentiles vary significantly depending on whether you compare yourself to:
All wage and salary earners: Includes part-time workers, students, and casual workers, a large group that pulls the median down. The median was $61,958 in the year ended 31 March 2026.
Employees in a typical week: Stats NZ’s Household Labour Force Survey puts median weekly earnings from wages and salaries at $1,419 in the June 2026 quarter (about $73,800 a year if earned every week). It’s higher than IRD’s median partly because it measures a typical week for people in work, while IRD’s annual figure includes people who earned wages for only part of the year.
Working full-time doesn’t by itself put you above the all-earners median: full-time at the adult minimum wage is $49,816 a year, below the median of $61,958. Context matters. A $75,000 salary puts you in the top 38% of all wage and salary earners (62nd percentile), but lower among full-time employees.
Auckland vs Rest of NZ
This calculator ranks you against all New Zealand wage and salary earners: IRD doesn’t publish its distribution by region. Living costs differ far more between regions than the national ranking shows, mostly through housing. For city budgets and Tenancy Services rents, see the cost of living guides; for how salaries compare by city, see the income by city guides.
—|—|—| | Auckland | ~$68,000 | ~15–20% higher | | Wellington | ~$75,000 | ~10–15% higher | | Christchurch | ~$63,000 | Broadly average | | Hamilton | ~$60,000 | Slightly below average | | Tauranga | ~$62,000 | Slightly above average | | Dunedin | ~$58,000 | Broadly average | | Regional NZ | $48,000–$58,000 | Often lower |
Auckland median incomes are higher, but so is the cost of housing, childcare, and transport. A $75,000 salary in Invercargill provides more purchasing power than the same salary in Auckland.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentile is $100,000 in New Zealand?
Based on IRD’s wage and salary data for the year ended 31 March 2026, $100,000 sits at about the 78th percentile, meaning it’s higher than about 78% of individuals with wage or salary income. Among full-time employees only it ranks lower, since that group’s distribution is shifted higher overall. About 22% of all wage and salary earners receive $100,000 or more a year.
What is the median salary in New Zealand in 2026?
The median individual wage or salary income was $61,958 for the year ended 31 March 2026, based on Inland Revenue data. Stats NZ’s Household Labour Force Survey puts median weekly earnings from wages and salaries at $1,419 in the June 2026 quarter (about $73,800 a year if earned every week). It’s higher than IRD’s median partly because it measures a typical week for people in work, while IRD’s annual figure includes people who earned wages for only part of the year.
What percentage of New Zealanders earn over $150,000?
About 7% of individuals with wage or salary income earn $150,000 or more a year: $150,000 sits at about the 93rd percentile in IRD’s data for the year ended 31 March 2026.
Is $80,000 a good salary in New Zealand?
$80,000 sits at about the 66th percentile, putting you in the top 34% of individual wage and salary earners. For a single person, it provides a comfortable lifestyle outside Auckland and is workable in Auckland with careful budgeting. See the good salary guide for a detailed regional breakdown.