New Zealand
PPP-adjusted average annual wage
$60,896 2025
New Zealand wage data reflects PPP-adjusted earnings in constant 2025 prices, distinct from consumer price indices that remain separate observations. Recent compensation levels sit below the 2021 peak despite long-term growth since 1990. Price comparisons for 2024 show specific categories exceeding United States benchmarks while others fall significantly lower.
1-Year Change
+0.7%
vs 2024
5-Year Change
+2.6%
vs 2020
Overall Price Level
81.6
2024 · United States = 100
Wage data: 2025 · Price data: 2024
Wage History
Track PPP-adjusted average annual wages in constant prices over time.
PPP-adjusted annual wage (USD)
USD PPP, constant 2025 prices
Wage Key Facts
Latest Wage
$60,896
Latest Year
2025
1-Year Change
+0.7%
5-Year Change
+2.6%
10-Year Change
+15.5%
Historical Peak
$62,034
Peak Year
2021
Change From Peak
−1.8%
What the Wage Trend Shows
The latest reported average annual wage reached 60896 USD PPP in 2025. This figure represents a 0.71 percent increase from the prior year.
Compensation remains 1.83 percent below the historical peak recorded in 2021. Long-term growth totals 54.11 percent across the thirty-five year observation span.
Consumer Price Levels
Compare eight consumer price categories with the United States benchmark of 100.
United States = 100
What Prices Look Like
Highest: Housing
Housing has the highest relative price level among the available categories, at 105 (United States = 100).
Lowest: Health
Health is the lowest at 45.6, −54.4 index points against the United States benchmark.
Overall vs United States
The overall price level is 81.6, below the United States benchmark (−18.4 index points).
Wage and Price Snapshot
Read the latest wage record and the selected price benchmark together, without merging their years.
Overall consumption prices stood at 81.6 in 2024, which is 18.4 points below the United States. Housing and food categories exceeded the benchmark by smaller margins.
Health services registered an index of 45.6, sitting 54.4 points under the United States level. Clothing prices also fell below the reference point by 23.8 index points.
Restaurants and accommodation reached 103, placing this category 3 points above the United States. Transport and recreation indices remained slightly below the benchmark value.
- Latest wage recordWage year 2025
- $60,896
- Price category coveragePrice year 2024
- 8 of 8
- Relative to United States5 below, 0 at 100
- 3 above
Compare New Zealand
See how New Zealand's wages and price levels compare with other OECD economies.
South Korea$61,2592025+0.6%higher
France$60,4832025−0.7%lower
Sweden$61,4432025+0.9%higher
Finland$63,0532025+3.5%higher
Slovenia$63,3762025+4.1%higher
Lithuania$58,1122025−4.6%lower
Spain$57,7792025−5.1%lower
Israel$57,4262025−5.7%lower
Türkiye$57,2752024−5.9%lower
United Kingdom$66,2992025+8.9%higher
Canada$67,9012025+11.5%higher
Italy$53,8642025−11.5%lowerSimilar Economies
How to Read This Country Page
Three boundaries keep wage and price comparisons from being misread.
- Wage basis
- The annual wage is expressed in USD PPP at constant 2025 prices. It is an average, not a median wage, local-currency amount, or take-home figure.
- Years stay separate
- The latest wage year and the price year do not have to match. Price controls read only 2022, 2023, or 2024 and never substitute another year.
- Price benchmark
- 100 represents the United States price level. A value of 120 is reported here as 20 index points above that benchmark.
Data Coverage and Limits
See which years are actually present before comparing wage and price records.
Wage observations span thirty-five years from 1990 through 2025. The dataset includes thirty-six distinct reported values for longitudinal analysis.
Initial 1990 measurements began at 39514 USD PPP before rising to current levels. This extended timeframe captures multiple economic cycles and structural shifts.
Price data availability varies significantly across the observed period. Complete category breakdowns exist only for select years within the broader wage series.
- Wage observations
- 36
- Wage coverage
- 1990-2025
- Price categories · 2024
- 8 of 8
- Price categories · 2023
- 0 of 8
- Price categories · 2022
- 0 of 8
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average annual wage in New Zealand?
The average annual wage in New Zealand was 60896 USD PPP in 2025. This measure uses purchasing power parity adjusted to constant 2025 prices.
How has the average wage changed in New Zealand?
Average wages increased 0.71 percent over the last year and 2.59 percent over five years. The ten-year change stands at 15.49 percent since 2015.
What are consumer price levels like in New Zealand?
Consumer price levels for 2024 show overall consumption at 81.6 relative to the United States benchmark of 100. Specific categories like health were much lower while housing exceeded the reference.
Have wages in New Zealand grown over the long term?
Yes, wages have grown 54.11 percent since 1990 despite recent softness. Current levels remain 1.83 percent below the 2021 historical peak value.
Wage data
OECD Average Annual Wages
Price data
OECD Comparative Price Levels
Reported coverage
Wages through 2025 · Prices through 2024