Brandwave

Mercer vs Strategic Pay:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Strategic Pay had more branded searches than Mercer among salary benchmarking and pay intelligence providers in New Zealand. Strategic Pay had about 350 branded searches, while Mercer had 10. Strategic Pay made up 14.1% 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 and Strategic Pay each appeared in three of the five answers. Strategic Pay was mentioned before Mercer in three out of four answers that named either.

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

Who do people search for more?

Strategic Pay, about 35 searches for every 1 for Mercer

Strategic Pay 350 searchesMercer 10 searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 3 of 5 answers.

Mercer in 3 of 5Strategic Pay in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Strategic Pay, named ahead of Mercer in 3 of 4 answers

Strategic Pay first in 3Mercer first in 1

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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, Mercer was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Strategic Pay was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Strategic Pay was listed before Mercer in three out of 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 Strategic Pay more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Mercer and Strategic Pay 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 Strategic Pay among salary benchmarking and pay intelligence providers in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Strategic Pay, 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 Strategic Pay 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. Strategic Pay’s share of searches among salary benchmarking and pay intelligence providers in New Zealand has gained ground for 3 months in a row, from 11.9% to 14.1% in September 2026.

  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?

6 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Mercer’s and Strategic Pay’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.

Mercer

2 branded search terms

  • mercer remuneration
  • mercer salary survey

Strategic Pay

4 branded search terms

  • rem on demand
  • rem on-demand
  • strategic pay
  • strategicpay

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

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

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