Average Salary in New Zealand 2026
Currency: NZD · Updated for 2026
How much money does a person working in New Zealand make?
Average Monthly Salary
5,239 NZD
( 62,866 NZD yearly )
~ 3,214 USD per month ( 38,568 USD yearly )
LOW
1,048 NZD
643 USD
AVERAGE
5,239 NZD
3,214 USD
HIGH
20,955 NZD
12,856 USD
A person working in New Zealand typically earns around 5,239 NZD per month. Salaries range from 1,048 NZD (lowest average) to 20,955 NZD (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).
This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Salaries vary drastically between different careers. If you are interested in the salary of a particular job, see below for salaries for specific job titles.
Distribution of Salaries in New Zealand
Median and salary distribution monthly New Zealand
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What is the difference between the median and the average salary?
Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people are earning more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated.
The median (4,453 NZD) represents the middle salary value — 50% earn more and 50% earn less. The average (5,239 NZD) is the sum of all salaries divided by the number of workers, and can be skewed by extremely high or low salaries.
Salary Comparison by Years of Experience
How does a person's salary progress over time?
- 0–2 Years (Entry Level)31,433 NZD
- 2–5 Years (Junior)40,862 NZD
- 5–10 Years (Mid-Career)53,436 NZD
- 10–15 Years (Experienced)62,866 NZD
- 15+ Years (Senior)75,440 NZD
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The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally the more years of experience the higher the wage.
Generally speaking, employees having experience from two to five years earn on average +30% more than freshers and juniors across all industries and disciplines.
Professionals with experience of more than five years tend to earn on average +31% more than those with five years or less of work experience.
As you hit the ten years mark, the salary increases by +18% and an additional +20% for those who have crossed the 15 years mark.
“On average, a person's salary doubles their starting salary by the time they cross the 10 years experience mark.”
Salary Comparison By Education
How does the education level affect your salary?
- High School37,720 NZD
- Certificate44,007 NZD
- Associate50,292 NZD
- Bachelor's62,866 NZD
- Master's75,440 NZD
- PhD88,012 NZD
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High School → Certificate
+17%
Certificate → Bachelor's
+43%
Bachelor's → Master's
+20%
Master's → PhD
+17%
It is well known that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We compared the salaries of professionals at the same level but with different college degrees levels across many jobs, below are our findings.
Workers with a certificate or diploma earn on average +17% more than their peers who only reached the high school level.
Employees who earned a Bachelor's Degree earn +43% more than those who only managed to attain a certificate or diploma.
Professionals who attained a Master's Degree are awarded salaries that are +20% more than those with a Bachelor's Degree.
Finally, PhD holders earn +17% more than Master's Degree holders on average.
Salary Comparison By Gender
Salary comparison by gender monthly New Zealand
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Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? Male employees in New Zealand earn 11% more than their female counterparts on average across all sectors.
Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage in New Zealand
How much are annual salary increments? How often do employees get salary raises?
11%
Average Raise
18 months
Review Frequency
7%
Annualized Increase
Employees in New Zealand are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 11% every 18 months.
The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 ÷ Increase Frequency
The average salary increase in one year (12 months) in New Zealand is 7%.
Bonus and Incentive Rates in New Zealand
How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?
55%
Received Bonus
45%
No Bonus
55% of surveyed staff in New Zealand reported receiving at least one form of monetary bonus.
Average Bonus Rate
3%
of annual salary
Types of Bonuses Considered:
• Individual Performance-Based Bonuses
• Company Performance Bonuses
• Goal-Based Bonuses
• Holiday / End of Year Bonuses
Top 5 Highest Paying Industries
Annual average salaries
- Legal84,869 NZD
- Aviation81,725 NZD
- Information Technology81,725 NZD
- Banking78,582 NZD
- Pharmaceuticals78,582 NZD
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Salaries for Popular Jobs
Sample job titles and their average salaries
| Job Title | Annual Salary | Monthly Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Surgeon | 157,165 NZD | 13,097 NZD |
| Pilot | 125,732 NZD | 10,478 NZD |
| Software Developer | 113,158 NZD | 9,430 NZD |
| Data Scientist | 106,873 NZD | 8,906 NZD |
| Financial Manager | 100,586 NZD | 8,381 NZD |
| Database Administrator | 94,299 NZD | 7,858 NZD |
| Engineer | 88,012 NZD | 7,335 NZD |
| Marketing Manager | 81,725 NZD | 6,810 NZD |
| Project Manager | 78,582 NZD | 6,549 NZD |
| Accountant | 69,153 NZD | 5,762 NZD |
| Hotel Manager | 62,866 NZD | 5,239 NZD |
| Nurse | 56,579 NZD | 4,716 NZD |
| Graphic Designer | 53,436 NZD | 4,453 NZD |
| Chef | 47,149 NZD | 3,930 NZD |
| Teacher | 44,007 NZD | 3,667 NZD |
Salary Comparison By City
Average annual salaries by city
| City | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Wellington | 72,295 NZD |
| Auckland | 66,008 NZD |
| Christchurch | 66,008 NZD |
| Hamilton | 66,008 NZD |
| Tauranga | 66,008 NZD |
Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison
Where can you get paid more?
4,976 NZD
Private Sector
5,501 NZD
Public Sector
+11%
Public sector employees in New Zealand earn 11% more than their private sector counterparts on average across all sectors.
Average Hourly Wage in New Zealand
31 NZD
per hour
The average hourly wage (pay per hour) in New Zealand is 31 NZD. This means that the average person in New Zealand earns approximately 31 NZD for every worked hour. Hourly Wage = Annual Salary ÷ (52 × 5 × 8)
Cost of Living in New Zealand
Estimated monthly expenses
Rent
789 NZD
/month
Food
253 NZD
/month
Transport
95 NZD
/month
Utilities
126 NZD
/month
Compare Your Salary
See how your salary compares with the average in New Zealand and explore top-paying jobs.