New Zealand Industry Salary Survey

The New Zealand Industry Salary Survey delivers benchmarking for New Zealand employers who need credible remuneration data.

The New Zealand Industry Salary Survey was first released in 2019 and provides detailed salary and remuneration benchmarking for employers. It is designed to support more informed decisions on salary review, hiring offers, internal pay positioning, budgeting, and workforce planning.

 

           

 

The next survey is scheduled for 2027.

What is the New Zealand Industry Salary Survey?

The New Zealand Industry Salary Survey is a New Zealand employer salary benchmarking survey built to provide remuneration data that is practical, current, and grounded in employer reality.

The report states that the salary data is based exclusively on employer-supplied data, rather than broad self-reported figures from employees or job seekers. That gives employers a more reliable base for defensible remuneration decisions.

Why salary benchmarking matters

Remuneration decisions affect much more than payroll cost.

They influence attraction, offer acceptance, retention, internal equity, leadership credibility, and workforce planning. Without good market data, employers can easily drift too low and lose talent, or move too high without a clear rationale.

This survey helps close that gap by giving employers structured salary and reward data that can support practical decisions.

What does the survey include?

The New Zealand Industry Salary Survey covers much more than salary bands alone.

The 2025 report includes:

• base salary data
• company size analysis
• location analysis
• KiwiSaver participation and employer contributions
• benefits summaries
• salary increases
• workforce demographics
• staff retention
• job change intentions and interview activity
• individual position-level remuneration data

This makes the survey useful not only for salary review, but also for understanding the wider reward and employment environment.

What the latest report says about the market

The 2025 report points to a clear market shift.

After the sharp salary escalation of 2021 to 2023, the report says salary growth has settled back into a more sustainable range of 2% to 4% per year. It also notes that median pay across Lawson Williams’ four industry surveys increased from $75,000 in 2019 to $104,000 in 2025, while top-end growth flattened and the middle of the market strengthened.

For employers, that suggests a more balanced remuneration environment. The focus is moving away from reactive salary spikes and back toward pay equity, retention, and total reward design.

How the survey works

The report is structured in two sections.

Section A provides general survey data and analysis.
Section B provides individual position-level remuneration data.

Participating companies receive Sections A and B free of charge. Non-participating employers can access Section A free, while Section B is available for purchase.

Who is the survey for?

This survey is relevant for:

• HR and remuneration teams
• business owners and CEOs
• finance leaders
• hiring managers
• organisations preparing salary reviews
• employers wanting more robust New Zealand salary benchmarks

The report notes that this is especially valuable for small to medium-sized businesses, which make up the majority of New Zealand employers.

Current salary survey programme

The wider Lawson Williams salary survey programme includes:

• the New Zealand Industry Salary Survey
• the New Zealand Supply Chain Salary Survey
• the New Zealand Food Industry Salary Survey

The report identifies partnership support from NZIFST, NZPICS, and NZFGC, helping extend reach and relevance across New Zealand industry.

Participate in the 2027 New Zealand Industry Salary Survey and receive the full report free.

          

Frequently Asked Questions