Mercer vs Payscale:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Payscale had more branded searches than Mercer among salary benchmarking and pay intelligence providers in New Zealand. Payscale had about 150 branded searches, while Mercer had 10. Payscale made up 6% of all salary benchmarking and pay intelligence provider searches we track, and Mercer accounted for 0.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about salary benchmarking and pay intelligence providers, Mercer appeared in three of the five answers and Payscale in two. Mercer and Payscale were each mentioned first in two of the four answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Payscale, about 15 searches for every 1 for Mercer
Who does AI mention more?
Mercer, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Payscale in 2
Who does AI recommend more?
Each is named first in 2 of 4 answers.
Follow Mercer vs Payscale and get free monthly updates on what changed
By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy
Top salary benchmarking and pay intelligence providers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Mercer was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Payscale was mentioned in two out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in both Google AI Overviews. Mercer and Payscale were each listed first in two of the four answers that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Strategic Pay1st- Payscale2nd
- Mercer3rd
Korn Ferry4th
Robert Walters5th- Ravio6th
LiveRem–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Robert Walters4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Korn Ferry3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Strategic Pay3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Mercer3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Payscale2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Ravio2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- LiveRem0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about salary benchmarking and pay intelligence providers
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which salary benchmarking and pay intelligence provider should I use in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best salary benchmarking and pay intelligence providers in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best salary benchmarking and pay intelligence provider in New Zealand for market pay data?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“compensation benchmarking tool”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“salary survey software”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.
Is Mercer or Payscale more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Mercer and Payscale by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven salary benchmarking and pay intelligence providers we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.
Share of searches by month for Payscale, Mercer. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Robert Walters | Korn Ferry | Strategic Pay | LiveRem | Payscale | Mercer | Ravio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 56.7% | 17% | 12.4% | 5% | 7.8% | 0.35% | 0.71% |
| Nov 2025 | 53.1% | 15.9% | 17.1% | 7.3% | 4.9% | 0.82% | 0.82% |
| Dec 2025 | 53.5% | 17.1% | 18.2% | 4.8% | 5.3% | 0.53% | 0.53% |
| Jan 2026 | 51.8% | 15.5% | 13.5% | 12.7% | 4.8% | 0.8% | 0.8% |
| Feb 2026 | 58.4% | 14.2% | 12.4% | 7.7% | 6.6% | 0.36% | 0.36% |
| Mar 2026 | 50.2% | 18.5% | 13.8% | 11% | 5.6% | 0.31% | 0.63% |
| Apr 2026 | 56.7% | 17% | 15.2% | 5.7% | 4.3% | 0.35% | 0.71% |
| May 2026 | 54.6% | 16.4% | 12.6% | 10.2% | 5.1% | 0.34% | 0.68% |
| Jun 2026 | 55.9% | 16.8% | 11.9% | 8.4% | 6.3% | 0.35% | 0.35% |
| Jul 2026 | 51.9% | 19.2% | 13.3% | 9.7% | 4.9% | 0.65% | 0.32% |
| Aug 2026 | 52.8% | 19.5% | 13.8% | 7.7% | 4.9% | 0.41% | 0.81% |
| Sep 2026 | 52.2% | 19.3% | 14.1% | 7.6% | 6% | 0.4% | 0.4% |
How has the Mercer and Payscale comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Payscale was ahead of Mercer in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Mercer’s share of searches among salary benchmarking and pay intelligence providers in New Zealand moved from 0.35% to 0.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 10.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Payscale’s share of searches among salary benchmarking and pay intelligence providers in New Zealand moved from 7.8% to 6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 220 to 150.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand salary benchmarking and pay intelligence providers in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Payscale gained share of searches among salary benchmarking and pay intelligence providers in New Zealand, from 4.9% to 6%.
In September 2026, Mercer rose from 7th to 6th among salary benchmarking and pay intelligence providers in New Zealand.
How are branded searches counted?
4 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Mercer’s and Payscale’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Other head-to-heads among salary benchmarking and pay intelligence providers
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.