Reference
Last updated: May 2026 (latest data: December 2025 quarter)
Average weekly earnings and wage growth from the Stats NZ Quarterly Employment Survey (QES). This is different from the annual income survey: the QES measures what employers pay per filled job each quarter, so it is the standard gauge of how fast wages are moving. The figures below are for full-time equivalent employees and include overtime.
PAYE Calculator Pay Rise Calculator Hourly to Salary| Measure | Amount |
|---|---|
| Average weekly earnings, FTE (including overtime) | $1,712 |
| Average ordinary time hourly earnings | $43.99 |
| Annualised average earnings (FTE) | ~$89,000 |
| Measure | What it shows |
|---|---|
| QES average weekly earnings | What employers pay per filled job, surveyed quarterly. Best for tracking wage movement. |
| Income survey median (annual) | The middle personal income across all earners, lower than the average because high earners pull the average up. |
| Labour Cost Index (LCI) | Measures pure wage inflation for the same job, stripping out changes in hours, overtime and the mix of jobs. |
Wages grew strongly from 2021 to 2023 on labour shortages and minimum wage rises, then moderated from 2024 as the labour market softened. For the middle personal income rather than the average, see our average and median salary reference.
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