Which sectors and roles had the largest increase?
Average salary across New Zealand finally surpassed inflation in the September quarter, after 12 months of steady increases “as employers were forced to put more money on the table to help Kiwis combat the rising cost of living,” according to Trade Me.
Trade Me Jobs sales director Matt Tolich (pictured above) said average Kiwi salary increased nearly $5,500 on the same time last year to reach $71,820.
“In the third quarter of 2023, we saw an 8% annual increase in average salary, which is slightly higher than the latest inflation figures from Stats NZ at 6%. This will be music to the ears of many Kiwi,” Tolich said in a media release.
All regions hit record salary in the third quarter of 2023, with Wellington seeing the biggest gain, at $76,041, followed by Southland ($70,106), Otago ($70,977), Canterbury ($70,404), and Marlborough ($70,039). These regions saw average pay lift by 9% to 10% over the same period last year.
“It’s no longer only Auckland and Wellington to hold the title as the $70,000 regions. Several regions broke the $70,000 mark for the first time last quarter, including Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Gisborne, Marlborough, Otago, Southland, and Taranaki,” Tolich said.
Record salaries across 15 industries
Of the 25 industries monitored by Trade Me, 15 hit a record average salary last quarter, with healthcare posting the largest increase, up 10% on last year to $70,649. This was followed by trades and services (up 9% to $71,283), manufacturing and operations (up 9% to $62,859), education (up 8% to $69,487), and hospitality and tourism (up 8% to $61,607).
“These industries really are the backbone of Aotearoa – they’re our builders, teachers, chefs and factory workers – and it’s great to see these Kiwi being recognised for the contribution they make,” Tolich said.
Record salary increases were also posted in the accounting, automotive, construction and roading, customer service, engineering, HR and recruitment, marketing - media and communications, office and administration, retail, sales, and transport and logistics sectors.
Roles with the largest salary increase
Looking at the roles with the largest annual salary bump in September, Tolich said it “was a mixed bag of blue- and white-collar workers.”
“Pharmacists took out the top spot seeing the largest average salary increase of any role, with a 20% annual increase from $63,252 to $76,155,” he said.
In second place were estimators in construction and roading, whose average salary jumped 19% to $114,872. Completing the top-five were psychologists and counsellors who saw an 18% bump in average pay to $84,797, roofers who saw a 17% jump in salary to $81,516, and those in telecommunications who saw a 17% annual uplift in average wage to $85,728, Trade Me reported.
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