Average salary in New Zealand (2026)

By the HRPricing editorial teamReviewed October 18, 2026How we research and score

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Average ordinary-time hourly earnings in New Zealand were NZD 44.62 in the June 2026 quarter, according to Stats NZ's Quarterly Employment Survey, released August 5, 2026, as we read it in a republication of the release (the Stats NZ page renders its figures by script, so we have not confirmed the number there). That is about $25.27 an hour (ECB cross rate, October 16, 2026), and NZD 92,809.60 over a 40-hour, 52-week year (our conversion). Moore Markhams, an accounting firm and a secondary source, lists no social security payroll tax, so the main employer add-on is the 3.5% KiwiSaver contribution for members, plus an ACC work levy.

Average earnings in New Zealand are measured by Stats NZ as mean ordinary-time hourly earnings of all employees, full time and part time.

See Deel pricing on Deel’s site
On this page
  1. Hourly first: reading Stats NZ's mean wage
  2. The lowest legal pay in New Zealand
  3. Employer cost of an average New Zealand wage
  4. Hiring in New Zealand without a local company

Hourly first: reading Stats NZ's mean wage

Stats NZ's headline is hourly, not annual. Ordinary time means regular hours, so overtime is left out, and the average covers full-time and part-time employees together. Because it is hourly, part-time work does not drag it down the way a per-job annual average would. It is a mean; we did not check a median.

Turning it into a salary is your arithmetic, not Stats NZ's: NZD 44.62 x 40 hours x 52 weeks = NZD 92,809.60. The Labor Cost Index showed 2.0% annual wage inflation in the same quarter. We read both figures from the release text as republished by Mirage News, because the Stats NZ page renders by script, so check them on stats.govt.nz. Median weekly earnings from the Household Labor Force Survey were not checked for this page.

Employer cost of an average New Zealand wage

From April 1, 2026, compulsory employer KiwiSaver contributions rose from 3% to 3.5% of gross pay for members, according to accounting firm Moore Markhams (a secondary source). Employer superannuation contribution tax (ESCT) is deducted from that 3.5%, not added on top. The ACC work levy is set by industry and was not checked; the ACC earners' levy is paid by the employee.

  • Annualized average pay: NZD 92,809.60
  • KiwiSaver at 3.5%: NZD 3,248.34
  • Total before the ACC work levy: NZD 96,057.94

Leave entitlements are covered on the New Zealand leave page, and the international cost calculator runs other salaries.

Hiring in New Zealand without a local company

An employer of record can hire for you. Native Teams (its help center says EUR 99) advertises EOR from $99 a month and Oyster charges $699 (prices read October 16, 2026). Deel lists $599 a month, $7,188 a year, more than the KiwiSaver contribution on an average wage.

See Deel EOR pricing on Deel’s site

The New Zealand EOR guide covers contracts and termination. Compare Australian salaries, or see our EOR rankings.

Frequently asked questions

What are average earnings in New Zealand?
NZD 44.62 an hour in ordinary time in the June 2026 quarter, from Stats NZ's Quarterly Employment Survey as republished (not yet confirmed on stats.govt.nz). Over 40 hours a week for 52 weeks that is NZD 92,809.60 a year (our conversion).
What is the lowest salary in NZ?
The adult minimum wage is NZD 23.95 an hour from April 1, 2026 (MBIE), or NZD 49,816 a year full time. Starting-out and training workers can be paid NZD 19.16 an hour.
What is the mean wage in NZ?
Stats NZ's mean ordinary-time hourly earnings were NZD 44.62 in the June 2026 quarter, covering full-time and part-time employees and excluding overtime.
What is the average NZ income in US dollars?
About $25.27 an hour, converting NZD 44.62 via ECB rates for October 16, 2026, or about $52,566 for a 2,080-hour year.
How much does an employer pay on top of salary in New Zealand?
3.5% KiwiSaver for employees who are members, from April 1, 2026 (Moore Markhams), plus an ACC work levy that depends on the industry. Moore Markhams lists no social security payroll tax.
Sources (10)
  1. Moore Markhams: 1 April 2026 payroll changes (secondary) (checked Oct 16, 2026)
  2. European Central Bank: Euro foreign exchange reference rates (rate of Oct 16, 2026)
  3. Payoneer Workforce Management (formerly Skuad): Skuad EOR pricing (checked Oct 16, 2026)
  4. Oyster: Oyster pricing (checked Oct 16, 2026)
  5. Deel: Deel pricing page (EOR $599 per employee per month) (checked Oct 16, 2026)
  6. Native Teams: Pricing (checked Oct 18, 2026)
  7. Native Teams: Pricing plans, features, benefits and how they work (help center) (checked Oct 18, 2026)
  8. MBIE, Minimum wage set for 2026: MBIE, Minimum wage set for 2026 (checked October 18, 2026)
  9. Stats NZ, Labour market statistics: June 2026 quarter: Stats NZ, Labour market statistics: June 2026 quarter (checked October 18, 2026)
  10. Mirage News republication of the Stats NZ June 2026 quarter release (used only to read the figure): Mirage News republication of the Stats NZ June 2026 quarter release (used only to read the figure) (checked October 18, 2026)

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