Salary Guide

New Zealand's recovery gained traction before an external shock put it to the test, with gross domestic product rising 0.8% in the March 2026 quarter and now 1.5% higher than a year earlier.

Conflict in the Middle East, election uncertainty and a resurgence in fuel and energy costs have since made employers more cautious, stalling the labour market's momentum rather than reversing its recovery outright.

Inflation has re-emerged as the main economic challenge, reaching 4.1% in the June 2026 quarter. In response, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand increased the Official Cash Rate to 2.50% in July, reversing its earlier rate-cutting cycle, and further increases are expected before year-end.

Businesses across the country are hoping the disruption proves temporary, and that the underlying recovery will regain strength once inflation stabilises and confidence improves.

For organisations of all types, understanding the economic climate and the state of their industries is of paramount importance.

To help navigate this, the 2026-27 Salary Guide provides an authoritative overview of wages and salaries across key occupations and industries from our experts in the field. It comprises data, insights and information that will help inform the critical recruitment decisions that are vital for success.

In a rapidly changing economic environment, this information will be more important than ever.

We trust that the 2026-27 Salary Guide helps firms to better understand the conditions in their industry sectors and assists them to navigate the year ahead.