Master Wage Negotiation in 2025: Strategies for Success

Talking about salary can be challenging – but it’s an important step in shaping your career. Whether you’re asking for a pay rise or discussing an offer for a new role, the way you approach the conversation can make all the difference. It’s not just about confidence – it’s about preparation, knowing your value, and understanding what’s driving the job market today.

In 2025, factors like talent shortages, flexible work expectations, and increased salary transparency are changing how pay conversations happen. To get the outcome you’re hoping for, it’s important to align your expectations with market trends and clearly communicate the strengths you bring.

At Adecco, we help job seekers across New Zealand navigate these moments with real-world advice and local insights. This guide will walk you through key steps to prepare for a salary discussion – so you can feel informed, confident, and in control for your career journey.

Understanding Market Dynamics

The job market landscape has evolved, presenting new opportunities and challenges for salary negotiations. Industries experiencing growth may offer higher salaries to attract talent quickly, making it essential to research current industry trends and salary benchmarks.

Resources like our 2025 Adecco New Zealand Salary Guide provide up-to-date insights to help you gauge your market value effectively.

What’s New in 2025: Salary Growth by Industry

Our 2025 Salary Guide reveals that several industries are seeing notable salary increases. Roles in Construction, Healthcare, and IT have experienced advertised salary growth of up to 9%, largely due to talent shortages and increased demand. If you’re working in one of these sectors – or looking to enter one – these figures give you a strong starting point for negotiations, showing where employers are willing to pay more to secure skilled talent.

What Kiwi Workers Want: Flexibility First

Alongside salary expectations, job seekers are increasingly focused on work-life balance. The 2025 guide found that 51% of New Zealand workers now prioritise flexible or hybrid work arrangements when considering a role. For candidates, this opens the door to negotiate not just on pay, but also on working conditions, hours, and benefits. In many cases, these non-monetary perks can be just as valuable as a pay rise – and often more achievable for employers.

Showcasing Your Value

Effectively negotiating your salary begins with understanding your strengths, accomplishments, and what sets you apart from the crowd. Highlight specific achievements that demonstrate your ability to add value to the company, such as getting a project off the ground or solving an issue creatively. By addressing skill gaps identified through research, you can articulate how you’ll contribute to the organisation’s success, moving beyond simply stating a desired salary.

Check out this recent article on Decoding AI Jargon in the Workplace or The Soft Skills That Machines Can’t Replace to help you prepare.

Preparing Your Pitch

Preparation is key to a successful salary negotiation. Practice presenting your case confidently, rehearsing responses to potential questions or objections. Soliciting feedback from peers or mentors can refine your approach and boost your confidence during the discussion. Remember, a well-prepared negotiation demonstrates professionalism and determination.

In some cases, employees will often roll the dice and give their manager an ultimatum by asking for a pay increase otherwise they will leave the organisation. Not only is this a risky career move, but our research shows that this will have very little impact on being successful with your request, with only 2% of workplaces surveyed offering an increase in salary in that instance. Before rushing into the salary increase conversation, grab your copy of our Salary Guide. In it, you will find a range of current salaries, facts, figures and salary ranges for a variety of roles that we recruit for around New Zealand.

Other Factors

Before you approach the subject of a salary increase, it is important to understand that a salary increase is not guaranteed based on performance alone. Our client feedback surveys highlight what is most important to employers when reviewing an employee’s salary – either during a salary review or when an employee makes a request. Whilst individual performance was an important factor (32%), the overall performance of the organisation (20%) was also highly considered in the reviewing process.

When the business is not successful financially, it can be very hard to then offer pay increases to staff. Cost-cutting measures often need to be implemented and whilst many businesses may wish to reward their staff for their hard work, it fiscally isn’t possible.

Considering Non-Monetary Benefits

In cases where the desired salary isn’t feasible, explore alternative forms of compensation. Flexible work arrangements, professional development opportunities, or enhanced benefits packages can significantly enhance your overall job satisfaction and work-life balance. Insights suggest that employers are increasingly open to these discussions, prioritising employee well-being alongside financial compensation.

Our recent article on Fostering a Culture of Care walks employers through the benefits of supporting employees’ mental health, highlighting the strong financial benefits for them.

Maintaining Realism and Transparency

During negotiations, remain realistic and honest about your expectations. Present a salary range based on thorough research, ensuring the lower end still meets your financial needs. Honesty about your achievements and transparent communication about your value proposition reinforce your credibility and professionalism.

Empowering Your Career Journey

Ultimately, salary negotiations should align with your career goals and personal values. If an agreement cannot be reached, consider alternative career paths that better meet your expectations. Remember, you have the power to shape your career trajectory. If you’re weighing up multiple offers or dealing with a counter offer, check out our article on Counter Offers vs Job Offers: What’s the Right Move? for guidance on making the best decision for your long-term career.

For personalised insights into salary benchmarks and career advice tailored to your goals, contact our team today. Together, we can help you achieve the salary and career progression you deserve.