Architecture and interior design salaries
in Wellington - 2026
Explore architecture and design salaries in Wellington. Benchmark your pay or hire with confidence.
Architecture and Design
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How much do architecture and design professionals earn in Wellington?
Architecture and design salaries in Wellington range from $58,000 for a graduate to $211,000 for a director or principal in 2026. Registered architects at 6-10 years average $106,000, interior design associates average $115,000, and design leaders across all disciplines earn $125,000 to $211,000. All figures are NZD base salaries excluding KiwiSaver.
Updated 1 July 2026. Based on 1,890 survey responses, 1,200+ placements and 3,000+ live vacancies.
Wellington salary tables 2026
Base annual salaries in NZD, excluding KiwiSaver and bonuses. Benchmark your own salary with our calculator.
Showing annual base salaries, excluding KiwiSaver.
Architecture salaries in Wellington
| Role | Low | Average | High | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grad of Architecture (2-6 yrs) | $58,000 | $72,000 | $82,000 | |
| Grad of Architecture (6-10 yrs) | $82,000 | $91,000 | $106,000 | |
| Registered Architect (3-6 yrs) | $77,000 | $86,000 | $96,000 | |
| Registered Architect (6-10 yrs) | $86,000 | $106,000 | $125,000 | |
| Senior Architect / Associate | $110,000 | $125,000 | $134,000 | |
| Snr Associate / Project Director | $134,000 | $154,000 | $173,000 | |
| Director / Principal | $154,000 | $173,000 | $211,000 | |
| Technician (2-6 yrs) | $58,000 | $72,000 | $82,000 | |
| Technician (6-10 yrs) | $77,000 | $96,000 | $115,000 | |
| BIM Modeller / Coordinator | $77,000 | $96,000 | $115,000 | |
| BIM Manager | $115,000 | $130,000 | $144,000 | |
| Visualiser | $58,000 | $77,000 | $86,000 | |
| Senior Visualiser | $86,000 | $96,000 | $106,000 |
Interior design salaries in Wellington
| Role | Low | Average | High | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interior Designer (2-6 yrs) | $58,000 | $77,000 | $86,000 | |
| Snr Interior Designer / Project Lead (6-10 yrs) | $86,000 | $106,000 | $115,000 | |
| Associate | $106,000 | $115,000 | $134,000 | |
| Design Director | $125,000 | $154,000 | $192,000 |
Urban design and landscape salaries in Wellington
| Role | Low | Average | High | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Designer (2-6 yrs) | $67,000 | $82,000 | $96,000 | |
| Urban Designer (6-10 yrs) | $82,000 | $106,000 | $115,000 | |
| Assoc / Snr Urban Designer | $106,000 | $115,000 | $134,000 | |
| Urban Design Director | $125,000 | $154,000 | $173,000 | |
| Landscape Architect (2-6 yrs) | $67,000 | $82,000 | $96,000 | |
| Landscape Architect (6-10 yrs) | $82,000 | $96,000 | $115,000 | |
| Assoc / Snr Landscape Architect | $106,000 | $115,000 | $139,000 | |
| Landscape Architect Director | $134,000 | $154,000 | $192,000 |
Source: Bespoke Careers 2026 Salary Guide, updated 1 July 2026.
How Wellington compares
Average base salary for the same level across New Zealand. Titles vary slightly between cities, so the closest equivalent is shown.
Base annual salaries in NZD from the Bespoke Careers 2026 Salary Guide.
What’s shaping Wellington salaries in 2026
Graduates
Wellington graduates start at $58,000, second only to Auckland in New Zealand, rising to $82,000 by the top of the 2-6 year band and $106,000 at 6-10 years.
Mid-career
Registered architects at 6-10 years average $106,000, $4,000 behind Auckland and $4,000 ahead of Christchurch. Technicians and BIM Modellers at the same level average $96,000.
Senior
Senior architects and associates average $125,000, second in New Zealand behind Auckland at $130,000. Senior interior designers average $106,000 and Assoc/Snr Urban Designers $115,000.
Leadership
Directors and principals earn $154,000 to $211,000. Design Directors in interior design and Landscape Architect Directors both reach $192,000, the second highest in New Zealand at leadership level.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do architects earn in Wellington?
Registered architects with 6-10 years of experience in Wellington earn an average of $106,000 NZD, within a range of $86,000 to $125,000. Graduates start at $58,000 to $82,000, senior architects and associates earn $110,000 to $134,000, and directors and principals earn $154,000 to $211,000.
How much do interior designers earn in Wellington?
Interior designers with 2-6 years of experience in Wellington earn an average of $77,000 NZD. Senior interior designers and project leads earn $86,000 to $115,000, associates earn $106,000 to $134,000, and design directors earn $125,000 to $192,000.
What are the highest-paying architecture and design jobs in Wellington?
Directors and principals in architecture pay the most in Wellington at $154,000 to $211,000. Design Directors in interior design and Landscape Architect Directors both reach $192,000, and BIM Managers top the technical roles at $115,000 to $144,000.
How do Wellington salaries compare to Auckland and Christchurch?
Wellington sits second of the four New Zealand markets we benchmark, consistently behind Auckland and ahead of Christchurch and Queenstown. Registered architects at 6-10 years average $106,000 against $110,000 in Auckland and $102,000 in Christchurch. The gap to Auckland is typically 3-4% at every level.
How is the salary data collected?
Our salary data draws on input from over 1,890 survey respondents, 1,200 recent placements, 3,000 job listings and insight from 65 recruitment experts.
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