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Average NZ Salaries by Age 2025 - Where Do You Stand?

Discover where you stand financially with our guide to average NZ salaries and net worth by age. While various factors can influence earnings and net worth, understanding where you stand can help you set goals and make informed financial decisions.
Updated 11 January 2026
Summary:
  • ​Comparison is the thief of joy. However, many New Zealanders are occasionally keen to find out how they stack up financially against other New Zealanders.
  • Finding the relevant data to benchmark variables like income and net worth by age can be difficult, causing confusion and uncertainty.
  • Additionally, your earning potential and net worth can be influenced by various factors, including your education, skills, work experience, and the industry in which you work.
  • For these reasons, understanding what you should earn and your net worth at each stage of life can help you set goals and make informed financial decisions.
  • To increase your income and net worth, consider investing in your education and skills, negotiating your salary, pursuing promotions and new opportunities, starting a side hustle, and seeking out high-paying industries.
  • Ways to increase your net worth include paying off debt, saving and investing, increasing your income, spending wisely, and buying assets that appreciate. 

Our guide covers:
Disclosure:
  • The main source we’ve used to draw down on and populate this guide has come from Statistics New Zealand (Stats NZ) for the year ended 30 June 2025. Where possible, we've tried to include as much unbiased data as possible.
  • However, some of the data points below may be made through a survey or anecdotal format rather than hard, granular data. While our focus is always on quantifiable data, this research needs to rely on such sources, given the nature of the topics.
  • Additionally, we’ve focused on median figures, rather than average figures (despite titling the study 'Average NZ Salary'), as median statistics are more representative of the “typical” New Zealander. By doing so, we eliminate the risk of excessive incomes and net worths that skew the data and believe we have a more accurate 'average'.

​Data Limitations – What This Data Can and Can't Tell You
Before diving into the numbers, there are important caveats to understand:
  1. Part-time and full-time workers are mixed together: Stats NZ does not separate earnings by hours worked. This means the medians and averages reflect a blend of full-time, part-time, and casual workers. If you work full-time, these figures will look lower than your reality. There's no way to filter for "full-time only" from this dataset.
  2. The gender pay gap is unadjusted: The 16% gap compares raw median earnings – it does not control for hours worked, occupation, industry, qualifications, or career breaks. Women are more likely to work part-time or take time out for caregiving, which affects total earnings. This data shows the outcome gap, not necessarily a "same job, same pay" gap. Stats NZ explicitly notes this with their disclaimer -"This measure does not consider factors that could influence differences in earnings, such as occupation, qualifications gained, age, and hours worked."
  3. No industry or occupation breakdown: The data doesn't tell you what professions earn – only what age groups, genders, ethnicities, and regions earn overall. Two people with the same median salary could be in completely different jobs.
  4. It's descriptive, not explanatory: This is univariate data – it shows what people earn, not why. The ethnicity and gender gaps may reflect industry concentration, qualification differences, location, hours worked, or discrimination – the data alone can't separate these factors.
  5. Smaller groups have larger sampling errors: National and regional figures are robust, but breakdowns for smaller demographics (e.g., MELAA workers in Southland) are estimates with wider margins of error.

Related Guides:
Know This First: What is Net Worth? How Do I Calculate Net Worth?
  • Net worth is a measure of your financial health. It's calculated by subtracting your liabilities (debts and other financial obligations) from your assets (property, investments, and other valuable possessions). A positive net worth indicates that you have more assets than liabilities, while a negative net worth indicates more liabilities than assets.
  • To calculate your net worth, you'll need to add up the value of all your assets and subtract any outstanding debts or other liabilities. For example, if you own a house worth $500,000 and have a mortgage of $300,000, your net worth would be $200,000 ($500,000 - $300,000).
  • If you're looking for an easy way to work out your net worth, our net worth calculator will crunch the numbers and work this out for you in minutes.

How Much 'Should' I be Earning at Each Stage of Life or Age? (Holistically)

It's difficult to determine a specific amount you should earn at each stage of life, as this can vary based on your job, education, skills, experience, and industry. 

We've focused on medians - for example, if you're a lawyer, accountant or in a medical field, the salaries below will be lower than you and your professional peers. However, this guide focuses on age, not profession, and offers some general guidelines that can help you understand what you should be earning based on your age and career level in New Zealand:
  • Age 15 - 19 (teenagers): Most teenagers with assets at this stage will have been generated through gifts or small odd jobs. Salaries in this age range will likely be <$20,000 per year. For example, working ten hours a week during school and some 40+ hour weeks during summer could earn around $15,000.
  • Age 20 - 24: You'll usually either be finishing up university or have just become qualified as a tradesperson. You will likely take an entry-level position at a private company or public organisation. Generally, private companies pay more than public organisations (as many private roles come with short-term incentive plans, bonuses or employee share plans). As an example, entry-level positions in New Zealand typically pay around $50,000 to $60,000+ per year.
  • Age 25 - 34: As you gain more experience and skills, you’ll likely be able to negotiate higher pay and move between firms or competitors. Salaries in this age range can range from $60,000 to $100,000 per year.
  • Age 35 - 44: As you reach your mid-career, you'll likely become extremely proficient or experienced in certain aspects of your role. Additionally, you'll likely take on additional organisational responsibilities, such as leadership, strategy and supporting the younger graduates. All this responsibility means you'll likely be far more valuable in the market and can command a higher salary. The average salary in this age range is from $100,000 to $120,000 per year.
  • Age 45 - 54: Many people in this age range are at the peak of their careers and will be earning the highest salary compared to all other age brackets. By this point in your career, you should have had the opportunity to accumulate a significant amount of assets, and your net worth will likely reflect this. New Zealanders in this age bracket will likely earn salaries in the $100,000 to $150,000 per year range.
  • Age 55+: While salaries may start to decrease slightly as you approach retirement, many people in this age range still earn significant salaries, with the average salary ranging from $80,000 to $100,000 per year.

Know This: The above data range is anecdotal evidence to help describe the relative levels and stage New Zealanders might be at; we describe hard data below. The numbers above are just general guidelines, and your earning potential may be higher or lower depending on your circumstances.

How Much Should I be Earning at Each Stage of Life or Age? (per Statistics NZ)

The analysis below has been sourced from Stats NZ for the year end June 2025. Our research team has undertaken the analysis/calculations and created the graphs:

Median and Average Hourly Earnings in New Zealand

Age Group Median Hourly Average Hourly Gap Workers (000s)
15-19 $24.00 $25.26 +5% 122.9
20-24 $27.80 $30.25 +9% 237.5
25-29 $32.00 $35.14 +10% 280.7
30-34 $36.00 $40.21 +12% 334.6
35-39 $38.36 $44.49 +16% 339.7
40-44 $38.36 $45.91 +20% 305.2
45-49 (Peak) $39.04 $50.07 +28% 272.4
50-54 $38.36 $44.86 +17% 273.3
55-59 $36.66 $46.25 +26% 255.2
60-64 $35.58 $44.03 +24% 219.7
65+ $34.13 $49.93 +46% 209.6
All Workers $34.25 $42.37 +24% 2,850.8
Know This: The Gap column shows the percentage difference between the average and median: Gap = (Average - Median) / Median × 100

What it tells you:
  • A positive gap (e.g., +20%) means the average is higher than the median. This happens when high earners pull the average up.
  • The bigger the gap, the more inequality - there are people at the top earning significantly more than the typical worker.
  • A negative gap (e.g., -4% for 20-24 year olds) is rare and means the average is actually lower than the median. This happens when earnings are clustered together with a few outliers - most young workers earn similar amounts near the median, with fewer high earners pulling the average up.

Real example from the data:
For 45-49 year olds (peak earnings):
  • Median weekly: $1,575
  • Average weekly: $1,888
  • Gap: +20%

This means the "typical" 45-49 year old earns $1,575/week, but the average is pulled up to $1,888 by high earners. The +20% gap shows significant inequality within this age group.

For 65+ workers:
  • The +23% weekly gap (and +46% hourly gap) is huge - this reflects a mix of part-time retirees earning modest amounts and high-powered executives/consultants still working and earning a lot.

In summary: Bigger gap = more inequality = more high earners skewing the average upward.

Median and Average Weekly Income in New Zealand

Age Group Median Weekly Average Weekly Gap Workers (000s)
15-19 $378 $546 +44% 122.9
20-24 $1,060 $1,019 -4% 237.5
25-29 $1,285 $1,361 +6% 280.7
30-34 $1,458 $1,576 +8% 334.6
35-39 $1,523 $1,718 +13% 339.7
40-44 $1,534 $1,775 +16% 305.2
45-49 (Peak) $1,575 $1,888 +20% 272.4
50-54 $1,534 $1,847 +20% 273.3
55-59 $1,477 $1,828 +24% 255.2
60-64 $1,342 $1,615 +20% 219.7
65+ $1,055 $1,296 +23% 209.6
All Workers $1,343 $1,567 +17% 2,850.8

Median and Average Annual Income in New Zealand

Age Group Median Salary Average Salary Gap Median Hourly Workers (000s)
15-19 $19,656 $28,392 +44% $24.00 122.9
20-24 $55,120 $52,988 -4% $27.80 237.5
25-29 $66,820 $70,772 +6% $32.00 280.7
30-34 $75,816 $81,952 +8% $36.00 334.6
35-39 $79,196 $89,336 +13% $38.36 339.7
40-44 $79,768 $92,300 +16% $38.36 305.2
45-49 (Peak) $81,900 $98,176 +20% $39.04 272.4
50-54 $79,768 $96,044 +20% $38.36 273.3
55-59 $76,804 $95,056 +24% $36.66 255.2
60-64 $69,784 $83,980 +20% $35.58 219.7
65+ $54,860 $67,392 +23% $34.13 209.6

Gender Pay Gap by Age

Age Group Male Median Female Median Gap ($) Gap (%) Life Stage Impact
15-19 $23,920 $17,992 $5,928 24.8% Part-time work differences
20-24 $58,240 $52,000 $6,240 10.7% Near parity - early career
25-29 (Smallest) $69,836 $64,480 $5,356 7.7% Smallest gap - pre-family
30-34 $80,288 $69,836 $10,452 13.0% Gap emerges - family formation
35-39 $84,760 $69,836 $14,924 17.6% Caregiving impact visible
40-44 $85,800 $70,720 $15,080 17.6% Gap persists
45-49 $92,092 $74,100 $17,992 19.5% Peak male earnings
50-54 (Widest) $90,740 $71,812 $18,928 20.9% Widest gap
55-59 $84,240 $69,836 $14,404 17.1% Gap persists into late career
60-64 $77,792 $61,360 $16,432 21.1% Retirement transition
65+ $59,852 $48,880 $10,972 18.3% Part-time work for both
Our View: 
  • The 25-29 age group shows the gap can close – at 7.7%, it's near parity. But it then widens sharply in the 30s-40s.
  • This isn't just about 'women's choices' – it reflects structural factors: who takes parental leave, who works reduced hours for childcare, and whose career is treated as 'primary'. Policies like shared parental leave and flexible work may help, but the data shows we haven't solved this.

    Median and Average Salaries Since 1998

    Year Median Salary Average Salary Gap YoY Change
    1998 $26,936 $30,368 +13% -
    2000 $27,924 $31,668 +13% +3.7%
    2005 $33,280 $38,896 +17% +19.2% (5yr)
    2010 $39,884 $46,176 +16% +19.8% (5yr)
    2015 $45,760 $53,612 +17% +14.7% (5yr)
    2020 $54,080 $62,244 +15% +18.2% (5yr)
    2021 $55,848 $66,716 +19% +3.3%
    2022 $60,320 $70,876 +18% +8.0%
    2023 $64,844 $74,724 +15% +7.5%
    2024 $68,068 $79,196 +16% +5.0%
    2025 $69,836 $81,484 +17% +2.6%
    Our View: 
    • The 2022-2023 salary spike was exceptional – driven by labour shortages, immigration restrictions, and employers bidding up wages. The 2.6% growth in 2025 is closer to long-term norms.
    • Workers shouldn't expect 7-8% annual increases; 2-4% is more realistic going forward, which may not keep pace with housing and childcare cost increases.

    Tips to Increase Income, Earnings Power and Net Worth:

    There are several strategies you can use to increase your income:
    1. Education and training: Investing in your education and career development can open up opportunities for higher-paying jobs. Pursue additional certifications, degrees, or training in your field, or consider switching to a field with higher earning potential.
    2. Add more value: Look for ways to add value to your current employer. For example, offer new ideas, take on additional responsibilities and strive for excellence in your performance. Your employer might see your contribution's value and consider a promotion or raise.
    3. Networking: Building professional relationships can help you stay informed about job opportunities and can lead to mentoring, career advancement or accelerated promotion.
    4. Negotiate your salary: Don't be afraid to ask for a raise at your current job or to negotiate your salary when you're offered a new job. But, again, it's important to research and understand what you're worth in the market to negotiate a fair salary.
    5. Seek out high-paying industries: Some industries tend to pay higher salaries than others. If you want to increase your income, consider exploring careers in technology, finance, and healthcare.
    6. Look for new job opportunities: Look for new job opportunities on the internet and consider both full-time and part-time jobs. You can use job search websites, recruitment agencies, and your professional networks to search for job openings.
    7. Start your own business: Consider starting your business as a side hustle or a full-time venture. Starting your own business can be a great way to increase your income, but it does come with more risk and uncertainty. Additionally, as an alternative to full-time employment, freelancing or contracting can provide more flexibility and possibly higher earning potential. It also provides a way to test the waters in a new field or industry.

    There are strategies you can use to increase your net worth:
    1. Increase your income: As mentioned above, increasing your income will almost always help you grow your net worth (assuming lifestyle inflation doesn’t occur).
    2. Live below your means: One of the most effective ways to increase your net worth is to spend less than you earn. By living below your means, you'll be able to generate more disposable money to save and invest. So review your expenses and look for areas where you can cut back, such as subscription services or dining out.
    3. Create a budget: Create a budget and track your expenses. Tracking expenses will help you identify areas where you can reduce spending and increase your savings.
    4. Pay off debt: High-interest debt, such as credit card debt, can eat away your net worth. Make paying off debt a priority and avoid taking on new debt as much as possible.
    5. Invest: Investing your money is one of the most effective ways to grow your net worth. Consider investing in a diverse range of assets such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate.
    6. Start saving early: The earlier you start saving, the more time your money has to grow. Take advantage of compound interest and take advantage of savings plans.
    7. Be mindful of tax: Consider the tax implications of your investments and financial decisions. Then, take advantage of any tax breaks or incentives available.
    8. Be patient and consistent: Building wealth takes time and consistency. Stay committed to your financial goals, and don't get discouraged if you don't see immediate results. Keep in mind that slow and steady progress is still progress.
    9. Educate yourself: Learn about personal finance and investing as much as possible. Read books, take courses, and seek advice from financial experts. The more you know, the better equipped you will be to make informed decisions about your money. Keep learning and growing. Learning and growing are the keys to financial success. As you learn more, you'll be better equipped to make wise decisions about your money and more likely to achieve your financial goals.
    10. Be realistic: Try to be realistic about your financial goals, and don't try to keep up with the Joneses. It's important to be content with what you have and not compare yourself to others. Setting realistic financial goals that align with your lifestyle and income will help you create a sustainable plan for achieving them.
    11. Avoid lifestyle inflation: As you earn more, avoid the trap of lifestyle inflation. Instead of upgrading your lifestyle to match your increased income, continue to live frugally and use the extra money to pay off debt and save for the future.
    12. Review and re-evaluate your plan: Review and re-evaluate your plan regularly. Reflect on how well you're doing, what changes you need to make, and what you can do better.
    13. Be diversified: Be diversified in your investments and savings. Diversification reduces risk and increases the chances of getting better investment returns.

    Resources Covering Personal Finance and Growing Income and Net Worth

    ​There are many resources (both global and New Zealand-centric) available to help you learn more about growing your income and net worth. Here are a few suggestions:
    MoneyHub (Financial Independence series)
    Sorted
    • Sorted is a New Zealand government-owned website that provides financial advice and resources to help New Zealanders make the most of their money. The website covers various topics, including budgeting, saving, investing, insurance, and retirement planning.
    • One of the key features of the Sorted website is the "Money Planner," which is a tool that helps users create a personalised budget based on their income, expenses, and financial goals. The website also offers a range of financial calculators that can help users determine how much they need to save to reach their goals, such as buying a home or saving for retirement.
    • ​In addition to the financial tools and resources, the Sorted website also offers a range of articles and guides on topics such as debt management, tax planning, and managing your money during economic uncertainty. The website also has a section dedicated to helping young people make the most of their money, with resources and tips for building good financial habits from a young age.
    Interest.co.nz
    • Interest.co.nz is a news and analysis website focused on personal finance and economic issues in New Zealand.
    • The website offers a range of resources and tools, including mortgage calculators, retirement planning tools, and comparisons of different financial products. 
    • There are several online communities and forums dedicated to personal finance. These communities can be good places to get advice from others who are also working on improving their financial situation.
    • The most popular and relevant subreddit for New Zealanders is Personal Finance New Zealand, which has over 90,000 weekly readers as of January 2026 and has many great tips and tricks on how New Zealanders can increase their income, decrease their expenses and grow their net worth faster. 

    Earnings and Net Worth Must-Know Facts

    1. Most New Zealanders will reach peak earnings in their 40’s. Try to take full advantage of this.

    Typically, people tend to earn the most in their 40s. In the past, people in their 30s earned virtually the same as those in their 40s. However, the difference between these two age groups has increased, indicating that "peak earnings" tend to occur later in life.

    One way to think about it is that your 20s are for learning, while your 30s and 40s are for earning. So this scenario would mean that in your 20s, you choose your field and develop your skills, and then in your 30s and 40s, you focus on extracting the most out of those skills and maximising your earnings.
    ​
    During your 30s and 40s, you'll likely be able to build wealth the fastest due to your high income and opportunity to leverage up and invest in property (tied to your income affordability). Then, in your 50s and 60s, many people focus on their quality of life with family or relationships, rather than work. This pivot means you might ease off and work in a less demanding role or part-time as your goals and ambitions change. However, working less will almost always result in a decrease in weekly earnings. 

    2. Don't be disheartened if you're below your age bracket's income and net worth benchmarks.

    It's important to know that the numbers and statistics presented in this guide are median figures ONLY. Additionally, there's a significant amount of variability, bias and caveats when breaking down survey data or looking at one specific period.

    Just because you're above or below some of the numbers in this guide doesn't mean you're on the wrong track. However, suppose you feel you're not earning as much as you would like or are considering switching careers. In that case, it may be helpful to consider industries currently hiring and offering higher salaries. For a deeper dive into this, check out our definitive guide on how to get promoted at work.

    3. Choosing the right industry can disproportionately impact your income and net worth.

    According to data from Seek, the top three industries with the most significant increases in pay (for specific roles) are the Information and Communication Technology, Manufacturing Transport and Logistics, and Hospitality and Tourism industries.

    Generally, picking an average role in a high-growth industry (such as software engineering) will lead to far higher income and net worth than picking a high-growth role in a slow-growth industry. However, if you have the ability or freedom, try to choose industries that align with your skill sets and interests and are also in a high-paying industry. 

    4. Compare yourself to you yesterday, not to other New Zealanders today.

    While it can be useful to understand what other New Zealanders in similar situations are earning (to ensure you're not getting underpaid), every person will be in a unique financial situation. If comparisons to others are only causing you anxiety and stress, try to focus on comparing yourself to yourself from a few years ago rather than others.

    We're all on vastly different journeys, and up to a certain point, it doesn't make sense to compare yourself to other New Zealanders continually.
    ​
    Try not to get too caught up in comparing yourself to others, and instead, remember that these are just averages and that focusing on your goals and progress will yield more results than constant comparisons.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    When do New Zealanders usually reach a positive net worth?

    ​It's difficult to determine a specific age at which New Zealanders reach a positive net worth as this differs heavily based on various factors, including education, skills, work experience, and industry. However, it's common for people to reach a positive net worth in their mid-to late-20s or early 30s as they enter the workforce and accumulate assets.

    How long does it usually take New Zealanders to earn more than $100,000 in New Zealand?

    It's difficult to determine a specific length of time it takes New Zealanders to earn more than $100,000, as this can vary based on education, skills, work experience, and the industry you work in. However, it's common for people to reach this income level in their mid-to late-30s or early 40s as they gain more experience and skills and progress in their careers.

    Where can I find data on what New Zealanders are earning? What about data related to Net Worth?

    You can find the best data on earnings and net worth statistics in New Zealand from these three government organisations:

    Where can I find data on the net worth of other people my age overseas?

    The website Financial Samurai has relevant sources about net worth in the United States, for example it has articles about net worth figures of 30-year-olds and above-average people.
    Related Guides and Tools: