Median Wage

Median Wage in New Zealand

What is the median wage?

The median wage is the wage for which half of workers earn below and half of workers earn above. I.e. the median wage is the "middle" amount if all wages from lowest to highest were sorted in order.

The Median Wage

As of June 2025
Hourly Rate
$35.00/hr
Weekly Earnings
$1,380/week
Annual Equivalent
$71,760
Source
Stats NZ
Effective
June 2025

Median Wage Calculations

Median wage and immigration

The median wage in New Zealand is used as a threshold for various visa requirements, and it is updated annually based on the June median wage published by Stats NZ from the previous year.

This rate is applied to determine eligibility for certain visas, such as the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), where jobs must pay at least the median wage unless an exemption applies. The median wage also influences pay thresholds for other visa types, including the Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa and the Transport Work to Residence Visa.