Pay by Role
Legal · New Zealand

Lawyer Salary in New Zealand

Lawyers advise and represent clients on legal rights, disputes, and transactions. The New Zealand median is $135,880 per year. Pick a city below for a local breakdown.

Showing amounts in USD (USD default; source data is NZD). FX as of Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:02:31 +0000. Convert currencies

National median
$135,880
per year
Monthly (national)
$11,343
per month, before tax
Highest-paying city
$135,880
Manukau, NZ
Hourly (national)
$65.33
varies by city

Lawyer salary by city in New Zealand

CityPer year
Manukau, NZ$135,880
Hamilton, NZ$135,880
Tauranga, NZ$135,880
Dunedin, NZ$135,880
Lower Hutt, NZ$135,880
Wellington, NZ$101,334
Auckland, NZ$95,576
Christchurch, NZ$88,092

Lawyer salary in other countries

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Related Legal salaries in New Zealand

ParalegalCorporate Attorney

Frequently asked questions

How much does a lawyer make in New Zealand?
The national median lawyer salary in New Zealand is about $236,000 per year ($19,700 per month). Across 8 cities, pay ranges from about $153,000 to $236,000.
Which New Zealand city pays lawyers the most?
Manukau, NZ pays the most at about $236,000 per year.
Which New Zealand city pays lawyers the least?
Among cities we cover, Christchurch, NZ is on the lower end at about $153,000 per year for a lawyer.
What is the typical salary range for a lawyer in New Zealand?
Across New Zealand cities we cover, lawyer pay commonly spans from about $101,000 at the entry end in lower-paying markets up to about $365,800 for senior pay in higher-paying cities. Open a city page for the full local percentile band.
How many New Zealand cities have lawyer salary data?
Pay by Role publishes lawyer pay for 8 cities in New Zealand, all shown in NZD.
Is lawyer in demand in New Zealand?
Employment for this role is projected to change by about +8% over the next decade. Related legal roles on Pay by Role include Paralegal, Corporate Attorney.