New Zealand's fastest growing salaries

New Zealand's fastest growing salaries
SEEK content teamupdated on 20 April, 2024
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Which industries and roles have seen the fastest salary growth on SEEK? We’ve unpacked the data so you can explore relevant opportunities for you.  

According to research for SEEK, the main reason people look for a new job is because they’re not getting paid enough. So, if you’re looking to earn more money, a role change could really pay off right now.  

We’ve put together a list of New Zealand industries and jobs that have experienced the biggest salary increases recently. Select an industry below to find out. 

Rank
Industry
Role
Average salary
Salary growth
Job ads
1
Sales
$84,791
Salary growth increase16%
2
Trades & Services
$55,799
Salary growth increase13%
3
Farming, Animals & Conservation
$52,617
Salary growth increase13%
4
Trades & Services
$73,101
Salary growth increase12%
5
Community Services & Development
$64,872
Salary growth increase11%
6
Retail & Consumer Products
$83,258
Salary growth increase10%
7
Trades & Services
$56,636
Salary growth increase10%
8
Call Centre & Customer Service
$58,457
Salary growth increase9%
9
Engineering
$86,886
Salary growth increase9%
10
Healthcare & Medical
$90,817
Salary growth increase9%
11
Engineering
$119,987
Salary growth increase9%
12
Education & Training
$100,173
Salary growth increase9%
13
Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics
$71,138
Salary growth increase9%
14
Accounting
$117,164
Salary growth increase9%
15
Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics
$68,720
Salary growth increase9%
16
Information & Communication Technology
$131,324
Salary growth increase9%
17
Information & Communication Technology
$98,259
Salary growth increase9%
18
Trades & Services
$58,670
Salary growth increase8%
19
Information & Communication Technology
$93,094
Salary growth increase8%
20
Education & Training
$70,470
Salary growth increase8%

Why changing jobs can lead to higher pay increases

Many people are trapped in a cycle of small, incremental salary increases that fail to keep up with their skills, experience and market value. Our research found those who changed roles had a 1.5x greater salary increase than those who stayed in the same job. By changing jobs, you can get out of this cycle and find ways to earn more.  

Companies are willing to pay higher salaries to attract new, highly skilled talent. They recognise top talent are their best asset, so be prepared to negotiate a higher salary if you've got valuable skills and experience. 

Internal pay structures can also limit your growth within a single organisation. Some companies have rigid salary bands that might restrict you from advancing beyond a certain level, regardless of your performance or contributions.  

Over time, salary increases may become minimal or even nonexistent, leaving you feeling undervalued and unmotivated. By moving to a new company, you can reset your salary and regain momentum in your career, opening up the possibility for more significant pay increases in the future. 

Explore salaries 

Get the latest salary information for a range of roles and industries so you can see how your current job measures up and find the right career path for you. 

Source: Independent research conducted by Nature of behalf of SEEK, interviewing 3,330 New Zealand candidates annually, Sep 2023 - Jan 2024.

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