The top paid areas of the country have been revealed and Trade Me expects employers will continue to splash the cash at potential employees this year.
Trade Me Jobs data for the 2018 quarter reveals it's good news for job seekers as the amount on offer for would-be employees has jumped by 1.1 percent year-on-year to $61,082 - the largest annual increase in the national average wage offer on Trade Me since 2015.
But where are the most lucrative job areas?
Auckland City continues to be the highest-paying city in New Zealand at $72,299.
However, overall, Wellington is the highest paying region in the country with an average wage of $65,131 - up 0.4 percent on 2017.
This is then followed closely by Auckland at $64,634 - up 0.8 percent and Taranaki at $58,687 - up 2.9 percent.
"Wages in New Zealand have remained stubbornly low in recent years despite the cost of living in New Zealand increasing steadily during the same period," Trade Me Jobs' Anna Miles says.
"Throughout 2018 Kiwis saw a spike in petrol, property and rental prices, with little change to their pay packets. We're sure job hunters will be pleased to see there is an opportunity to increase their pay if they want to make a move."
Ms Miles also says this increase is a result of the skill shortage as employers are finding it tough to find the right people and they're having to front more money to secure the candidates they want.
"We expect to see wages rise more this year as employers try to woo the people they need away from their current jobs."
The most lucrative jobs were in IT.
IT architects were being paid an average salary of $153,222 a year, followed by IT management roles earning an average $142,029.
"Skilled IT candidates are in high demand across the country and employers are offering more to secure talent with a 3.1 percent increase in average pay to $110,657. If you're in the IT industry and thinking about your next step, now is a good time to dust off your CV," Ms Miles says.
January and February are the biggest months for job hunters as a number of Kiwis head back to work and decide to start the New Year in a new role.
Job listings also saw a mild increase - the number of jobs being advertised on Trade Me was up 1.7 percent on the previous year.
"The North Island saw some phenomenal growth in the last quarter of the year. Job listings in Taranaki led the pack after a 30 percent increase on 2017, along with Hawke's Bay which was up 22.8 percent, while vacancies in Gisborne rose 20.3 percent."
The only regions that had reductions in the number of job listings year-on-year were Auckland, down 2.2 percent, Canterbury, down 7.5 percent and Marlborough, down 10.9 percent.
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