In the third quarter of 2023, the average salary in New Zealand rose by 8% in the third quarter of 2023 when compared to the same period a year ago, according to data from Trade Me Jobs.

The 8% increase was slightly higher than the latest inflation figures from Statistics New Zealand at 6%. 

According to Trade Me Jobs sales director Matt Tolich, as the general election nears, uncertainty is rippling through the jobs market with some employers putting their foot hard on the hiring brake.

Job listings were down 7.9% in the third quarter of 2023 when compared with the previous quarter. 

Every single region reached a record average salary in the third quarter of 2023. The regions with the largest annual salary growth were Wellington: NZD 76,041 (USD 45,422), Southland: NZD 70,106 (USD 41,877), Otago: NZD 70,977 (USD 42,397), Canterbury: NZD 70,404 (USD 42,059) and Marlborough: NZD 70,039 (USD 41,841), all seeing average pay rise between 9% and 10% on the same time last year.

“It’s no longer only Auckland and Wellington to hold the title as the NZD 70,000 (USD 41,818) regions. Several regions broke the NZD 70,000 (USD 41,818) mark for the first time last quarter, including Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Gisborne, Marlborough, Otago, Southland and Taranaki,” Tolich said.

“From the 25 industries we monitor, 15 reached a record average salary record last quarter,” Tolich added.

The largest increases by sector were seen in healthcare (up 10% on last year to NZD 70,649 (USD 42,205)), Trades & services (up 9% to NZD 71,283 (USD 42,584)), manufacturing & operations (up 9% to NZD 62,859 (USD 37,551)), education (up 8% to NZD 69,487 (USD 41,511)) and hospitality & tourism (up 8% to NZD 61,607 (USD 36,796)).

Among roles that have seen the largest annual percentage increase in salary, coming in at number five were those in telecommunications who saw a 17% annual uplift in average wage, followed by roofers who also saw a 17% jump in salary. In third place were psychologists and counsellors who saw an 18% bump in average pay, while the average salary for estimators in construction & roading jumped 19%. Pharmacists took the top spot seeing the largest average salary increase of any role, with a 20% annual increase.