What is the average salary in NZ in 2026?
The mean is about $81,484, but the median for employed workers, $71,760 a year, is more representative of typical full-time earnings.
Average and Median Salary in New Zealand 2026
Average and median salary in New Zealand using the latest Stats NZ June 2025 income data, including gender pay gap and take-home pay on the median salary.
Updated 6 June 2026
Data from Stats NZ HLFS June 2025 - the most recent annual income release available.
At a glance
| Measure | Amount |
|---|---|
| Median annual salary, all workers | $69,836 |
| Median weekly earnings, employed workers | $1,380/wk |
| Median annual, employed workers | $71,760/yr |
| Mean average annual salary | $81,484 |
| Average ordinary time hourly earnings | $43.39/hr |
| Gender pay gap, median hourly | 5.2% |
The most useful number for most people is the median for employed workers: $71,760/year. The broader $69,836 figure includes part-time and casual workers, which pulls it down.
Mean vs median
The mean adds up every salary and divides by the number of workers. A small number of very high earners pull it up, which is why the mean of $81,484 sits well above what most people actually earn.
The median is the midpoint. Half earn more, half earn less. It is the better number for benchmarking your own pay.
Average salary by industry
Median hourly earnings from Stats NZ HLFS June 2025. Only industries with directly confirmed figures are shown.
| Industry | Median hourly | Est. annual, 40 hrs |
|---|---|---|
| Financial and insurance services | $47.23 | $98,238 |
| Transport, postal and warehousing | $35.00 | $72,800 |
| All industries median | $35.00 | $72,800 |
Full industry breakdown is available at stats.govt.nz. This table will be expanded when the next HLFS income release publishes.
Average salary by age group
Median hourly earnings by age group, Stats NZ HLFS June 2025. Annual figures are based on a 40-hour week.
| Age group | Median hourly | Est. annual, 40 hrs |
|---|---|---|
| 15-19 | $24.00 | $49,920 |
| 20-24 | $27.70 | $57,616 |
| 45-49 | $40.00 | $83,200 |
| 50-54 | $38.96 | $81,037 |
| 55-59 | $38.00 | $79,040 |
| 60-64 | $36.38 | $75,670 |
Note: Stats NZ June 2025 only published statistically significant changes for these age groups in the release summary. Full age breakdowns are available through Stats NZ data tables.
Gender pay gap
The gender pay gap was 5.2% in June 2025 - down from 8.2% the previous year, the largest single-year improvement on record.
| Group | Median hourly | Median weekly |
|---|---|---|
| Men | $35.62 | $1,500 |
| Women | $33.76 | $1,263 |
| Gap | 5.2% | - |
The raw gap does not control for hours worked, occupation, or industry. Like-for-like comparisons can be smaller, but a gap still exists across much of the labour market.
Take-home on the median salary
A full-time worker on the employed median of $71,760/year takes home approximately:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Gross annual | $71,760 |
| PAYE plus ACC | $15,004 |
| Take-home, no KiwiSaver | $56,756/yr - $1,091/wk |
| Take-home, 3.5% KiwiSaver | $54,244/yr - $1,043/wk |
These figures assume no student loan, no child support, no Working for Families, and no secondary tax code. See your exact take-home in the TaxPop PAYE Calculator.
FAQs
What is the average salary in NZ in 2026?
The mean is about $81,484, but it is skewed by high earners. The median for employed workers - $71,760/year - is more representative of what a typical full-time worker earns.
What is a good salary in New Zealand?
Above $71,760 puts you ahead of half of employed workers. What counts as good still depends heavily on location, household size, industry, and housing costs.
Why is the mean higher than the median?
A small number of very high earners pull the mean upward without moving the median much. The median is less affected by extreme values.
Is the gender pay gap improving?
Yes. It dropped from 8.2% to 5.2% between June 2024 and June 2025. A gap remains, but the trend improved strongly in the latest annual release.
When does Stats NZ update salary data?
The main income release comes annually from the June quarter HLFS, usually published in August. The Quarterly Employment Survey updates average hourly earnings every quarter.
Data sourced from Stats NZ labour market income and labour market releases. Take-home figures are indicative and use 2026/27 PAYE and ACC settings.
Related pages
FAQs
What is a good salary in New Zealand?
Above $71,760 puts you ahead of half of employed workers, though location, industry, household size and housing costs matter.
Why is the mean higher than the median?
High earners pull the mean upward, while the median is the midpoint and is less affected by extreme values.
Is the gender pay gap improving?
Yes. Stats NZ reported the gender pay gap fell from 8.2% in June 2024 to 5.2% in June 2025.
When does Stats NZ update salary data?
The main income release comes annually from the June quarter Household Labour Force Survey, usually published in August.