Brandwave

Mercer vs Robert Walters:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Robert Walters had more branded searches than Mercer among salary benchmarking and pay intelligence providers in New Zealand. Robert Walters had about 1,300 branded searches, while Mercer had 10. Robert Walters made up 52.2% 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, Robert Walters appeared in four of the five answers and Mercer in three. Mercer and Robert Walters were each mentioned first in two of the four answers that named either.

Among salary benchmarking and pay intelligence providers in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Robert Walters, about 130 searches for every 1 for Mercer

Robert Walters 1.3K searchesMercer 10 searches

Who does AI mention more?

Robert Walters, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Mercer in 3

Robert Walters in 4 of 5Mercer in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Each is named first in 2 of 4 answers.

Mercer first in 2Robert Walters first in 2

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Top salary benchmarking and pay intelligence providers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Robert Walters was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the 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. Mercer and Robert Walters 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.

  1. Strategic Pay1st
  2. Payscale2nd
  3. Mercer3rd
  4. Korn Ferry4th
  5. Robert Walters5th
  6. Ravio6th
  7. 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

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 Robert Walters more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Mercer and Robert Walters 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.

Mercer and Robert Walters among salary benchmarking and pay intelligence providers in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Robert Walters, Mercer. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthRobert WaltersKorn FerryStrategic PayLiveRemPayscaleMercerRavio
Oct 202556.7%17%12.4%5%7.8%0.35%0.71%
Nov 202553.1%15.9%17.1%7.3%4.9%0.82%0.82%
Dec 202553.5%17.1%18.2%4.8%5.3%0.53%0.53%
Jan 202651.8%15.5%13.5%12.7%4.8%0.8%0.8%
Feb 202658.4%14.2%12.4%7.7%6.6%0.36%0.36%
Mar 202650.2%18.5%13.8%11%5.6%0.31%0.63%
Apr 202656.7%17%15.2%5.7%4.3%0.35%0.71%
May 202654.6%16.4%12.6%10.2%5.1%0.34%0.68%
Jun 202655.9%16.8%11.9%8.4%6.3%0.35%0.35%
Jul 202651.9%19.2%13.3%9.7%4.9%0.65%0.32%
Aug 202652.8%19.5%13.8%7.7%4.9%0.41%0.81%
Sep 202652.2%19.3%14.1%7.6%6%0.4%0.4%

How has the Mercer and Robert Walters comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for New Zealand salary benchmarking and pay intelligence providers in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Robert Walters lost share of searches among salary benchmarking and pay intelligence providers in New Zealand, from 52.8% to 52.2%.

  2. In September 2026, Mercer rose from 7th to 6th among salary benchmarking and pay intelligence providers in New Zealand.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Mercer’s and Robert Walters’ 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.

Mercer

2 branded search terms

  • mercer remuneration
  • mercer salary survey

Robert Walters

1 branded search term

  • Robert Walters

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among salary benchmarking and pay intelligence providers

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