This page compares incomes across New Zealand’s regions using Stats NZ’s 2023 Census place summaries, with Inland Revenue’s national wage and salary figures for ranking a salary. The Auckland Region is on the Auckland page.
In the 2023 Census, the median personal income of adults was $41,500 for New Zealand as a whole, ranging from $32,700 on the West Coast to $48,700 in the Wellington Region among the regions below. Nationally, the median wage or salary income was $61,958 for the year ended 31 March 2026.
Income by Region (2023 Census)
| Region (2023 Census) | Median personal income of adults | Median weekly rent paid by households | Households who own their home or hold it in a family trust |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northland | $33,100 | $370 | 71.5% |
| Waikato | $40,300 | $400 | 65.6% |
| Bay of Plenty | $39,000 | $460 | 69.7% |
| Gisborne | $35,800 | $310 | 62.9% |
| Hawke’s Bay | $39,300 | $380 | 69.6% |
| Taranaki | $38,400 | $350 | 71.4% |
| Manawatū-Whanganui | $36,400 | $350 | 68.8% |
| Wellington | $48,700 | $500 | 66.3% |
| Tasman | $35,900 | $400 | 77.4% |
| Nelson | $38,800 | $430 | 71.2% |
| Marlborough | $39,400 | $384 | 74% |
| West Coast | $32,700 | $250 | 74.6% |
| Canterbury | $41,400 | $400 | 69.6% |
| Otago | $39,100 | $400 | 69% |
| Southland | $41,100 | $300 | 71.5% |
| New Zealand | $41,500 | $450 | 66% |
The Census measure is total personal income: the before-tax income a person received in the 12 months ended 31 March 2023, for people aged 15 and over who live in the area. It covers everyone aged 15 and over, not only people in paid work, so it is not comparable with a median salary. Census rents are from March 2023.
Where Your Salary Ranks Nationally
Inland Revenue’s wage and salary distribution counts the wage and salary earners in the year ended 31 March 2026. It is published for New Zealand as a whole, not by region.
| Annual wage or salary (before tax) | Higher than this share of NZ wage and salary earners |
|---|---|
| $30,000 | 27% |
| $45,000 | 36% |
| $60,000 | 48% |
| $75,000 | 62% |
| $90,000 | 73% |
| $100,000 | 78% |
| $120,000 | 86% |
| $150,000 | 93% |
| $200,000 | 97% |
For your own figure, use the income percentile calculator.
Take-Home Pay at Common Salaries
Take-home pay after PAYE and the ACC earners’ levy for the 2026–27 tax year, before any KiwiSaver contributions or student loan repayments.
| Salary | Take-home a year | Take-home a week |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $41,467 | $797 |
| $65,000 | $52,142 | $1,003 |
| $80,000 | $62,323 | $1,199 |
| $100,000 | $75,373 | $1,449 |
| $120,000 | $88,423 | $1,700 |
| $150,000 | $107,998 | $2,077 |
Pay by Occupation
Tahatū Career Navigator publishes pay ranges by occupation for New Zealand as a whole, not by region. See salary ranges by occupation.