SEEK Advertised Salary Index - February
The SEEK NZ Advertised Salary Index (ASI) measures the growth in advertised salaries for jobs posted on SEEK in New Zealand on a quarterly basis.
NATIONAL ADVERTISED SALARY TRENDS
Advertised salary growth rose by 0.9% q/q and annual advertised salaries accelerated again to 3.0% y/y.
Despite the rise, many roles pay less than their equivalent roles in Australia, including Carpenters where advertised salaries are 30% less in New Zealand.
REGIONAL ADVERTISED SALARY TRENDS
Annual advertised salary growth was fastest in Canterbury at 3.5% y/y, although the North Island, outside of Auckland and Wellington, had the fastest quarterly growth at 1.0% q/q.
Advertised salary growth has accelerated across most regions in recent quarters. Auckland, where growth has been more subdued, recorded the slowest annual advertised salary growth over the past year.
INDUSTRY ADVERTISED SALARY TRENDS
Annual advertised salaries grew fastest in the Advertising, Arts & Media industry at 8.3% y/y.
Most industries have continued to experience annual advertised salary growth, with only two recording a decline over the year to February: Science & Technology (-2.0%) and Mining, Resources & Energy (-2.5%).
SEEK Country Manager, Rob Clark says:
“The pick-up in advertised salaries across the country continued in the three months to February, with all regions and all but three industries experiencing quarterly advertised salary growth. The broad growth points towards a more positive labour market this year.
“Annual average advertised salary growth is the fastest it has been since late 2024. Canterbury continues to experience relatively quick annual growth and the North Island outside of Auckland and Wellington joined them in February.”
National Advertised Salary Trends
Advertised salaries rose by 0.9% q/q, continuing the acceleration of growth, albeit at a slower pace.
The recent acceleration of quarterly growth has led annual advertised salary growth to rise to 3.0% y/y, faster than at any point prior to the onset of COVID.
Despite this, for a lot of common roles there is a notable gap in advertised salaries between New Zealand and Australia. In some instances the difference can as much as 30% (Figure 3).
Figure 1: Quarter-on-quarter growth of SEEK Advertised Salary Index
Note: trend. Source: SEEK.
Figure 2: Year-on-year growth of SEEK Advertised Salary Index
Note: trend. Source: SEEK.
Figure 3: Average advertised salary by role – as at February 2026 - NZ$ (‘000s)
NOTE: Salary information is based on salaries stated by hirers at the time of job ad placement.
Regional Advertised Salary Trends
Over the past quarter advertised salaries grew the fastest on the North Island outside of Auckland and Wellington (1.0% q/q).
Canterbury, which had slightly slower growth over the three months to February, had the fastest annual advertised salary growth alongside the Rest of the North at 3.5% y/y.
The pick-up in Auckland appears to be lagging the rest of the country. Auckland recorded the slowest annual advertised salary growth over the past year (2.4% y/y).
The Rest of the South Island, which, of all regions, recorded the most significant slowdown in its annual advertised salary growth between 2023 and 2024, has bounced back in recent quarters. Annual advertised salary growth for the region now mirrors Wellington and Auckland over the past 12 months.
Table 1: SEEK Advertised Salary Index growth by region
Note: trend. Source: SEEK.
Figure 4: Year-on-year growth of SEEK Advertised Salary Index by region
Industry Advertised Salary Trends
The Advertising, Arts & Media industry had the fastest rise in advertised salaries over the past quarter (2.4% q/q) and over the year to February (8.3% y/y). This was only slightly faster than that recorded in the Real Estate & Property industry (8.0% y/y) which had relatively modest growth in the three months to February following strong increases over the preceding three quarters.
The Legal industry continues to record relatively fast annual advertised salary growth (6.7%), after consistent rises over the past four quarters.
The relatively small Mining, Resources & Energy industry had a notable decline in its advertised salaries over the past quarter (-4.2% q/q), pulling annual growth down (-2.5% y/y).
Advertised salaries also declined for the Science & Technology industry (-2.0% y/y), after a second consecutive quarterly decline (-0.7% q/q).
Table 2: SEEK Advertised Salary Index growth by industry
Note: trend. Source: SEEK.
NOTES
More information about how the SEEK ASI is put together and the current data can be found here.
When reporting SEEK data, we request that you attribute SEEK as the source and refer to SEEK as an employment marketplace.
Commentary relating to the SEEK NZ ASI can be attributed to Rob Clark, SEEK Country Manager.
About the SEEK ASI
The SEEK NZ ASI measures the change in advertised salaries over time for jobs posted on SEEK in New Zealand, removing much of the effect of compositional change. The SEEK NZ Advertised Salary Index is a complement to existing data about the growth in wages and salaries in New Zealand, including Stats NZ’s Labour Cost Index (LCI). The LCI is a measure of the pace of wages growth across the economy. The SEEK NZ Advertised Salary Index provides a timely and frequent read on the pulse of advertised salary growth in New Zealand for vacant roles.
Disclaimer
The Data should be viewed and regarded as standalone information and should not be aggregated with any other information whether such information has been previously provided by SEEK Limited, ("SEEK"). The Data is given in summary form and whilst care has been taken in its preparation, SEEK makes no representations whatsoever about its completeness or accuracy. SEEK expressly bears no responsibility or liability for any reliance placed by you on the Data, or from the use of the Data by you.
About SEEK
SEEK operates market leading online employment marketplaces, helping people live more fulfilling and productive working lives and helping organisations succeed.
SEEK has a multinational presence that is focused on New Zealand, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.