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.

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