Australia Superannuation Calculator: Your Super Balance at Retirement
This superannuation calculator for Australia projects your super to retirement using the 12% Super Guarantee and 2026-27 contribution caps: a 35-year-old earning $95,000 with $85,000 in super reaches about $585,227 at 67 in today's dollars, 93% of ASFA's comfortable target. Enter your age, balance, salary and contributions to see your own balance, retirement income and what fees cost you.
Updated . Built and checked by My Easy Calculator against ATO 2026-27 super thresholds, Moneysmart's published assumptions and the ASFA Retirement Standard for the June quarter 2026. How we check figures
| Super, 2026-27 | |
| Super Guarantee | 12% |
| Concessional cap | $32,500 |
| Non-concessional cap | $130,000 |
| Transfer balance cap | $2.1m |
| LISTO from 1 July 2027 | $810 |
| ASFA comfortable at 67, June qtr 2026 | |
| Single homeowner | $630,000 |
| Couple homeowners | $730,000 |
| Single, yearly spending | $56,166 |
Estimate your future super balanceProjected super at retirement, in today's dollars and future dollars
- 12% Super Guarantee
- Checked
Extra contributions (optional)
Fees and assumptionsAdmin fees, insurance, wage growth
Your estimate At 67
Super balance by age
Year-by-year projection
Balance at 1 July after each birthday. Tax is net of any low income super tax offset
| Age | Contributions | Earnings | Fees | Balance | Today's $ |
|---|
Figures update as you change any input. This is a model based on assumptions, not a prediction of your final balance.
What if returns are higher or lower?
Long-run returns are uncertain. Test a lower or higher average return.
Pick a change to compare it with your current result.
What if you retire at a different age?
Each extra working year adds contributions and growth, and shortens retirement.
See the balance and yearly income at another retirement age.
A 35-year-old earning $95,000 with $85,000 in a balanced option (6.1% a year after tax and investment fees) gets $11,400 of employer super in the first year, less $1,611.30 contributions tax. By 67 the balance is $1,871,735.30 in future dollars, or $585,226.83 in today's dollars, enough for about $35,555 a year to age 92 before any Age Pension.
Super rates and thresholds 2026-27 at a glance
In 2026-27 employers must pay 12% of ordinary time earnings into super, now with every pay under Payday Super, and you can add up to $32,500 a year before tax and $130,000 after tax. These are the figures the calculator uses for the first year of your projection.
| Rule | 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Super Guarantee rate | 12% |
| Maximum contribution base (yearly) | $270,830 |
| Concessional (before-tax) cap | $32,500 |
| Non-concessional (after-tax) cap | $130,000 |
| Bring-forward non-concessional, 3 years | $390,000 |
| Tax on concessional contributions | 15% |
| Division 293 income threshold (extra 15%) | $250,000 |
| Low income super tax offset, 2026-27 | Up to $500 |
| Low income super tax offset, from 1 July 2027 | Up to $810 |
| Transfer balance cap | $2,100,000 |
| Preservation age | 60 |
| Age Pension age | 67 |
How much super will I have at 67?
A 35-year-old earning $95,000 with $85,000 in a balanced super option can expect about $585,227 at 67 in today's dollars ($1,871,735 in future dollars), using Moneysmart's default return and fee assumptions. That is 93% of ASFA's $630,000 target for a comfortable retirement as a single homeowner.
How superannuation growth is estimated
The calculator projects super year by year, adding contributions, taking out tax and fees, and applying a yearly return, using the same method as the government's Moneysmart superannuation calculator. Results are converted to today's dollars by removing wage inflation, so a future balance can be compared with your living standard now.
- Employer contributions. 12% of your salary, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830, rising each year with wages.
- Your contributions. Salary sacrifice is reduced if needed to keep before-tax contributions within the cap; after-tax contributions are kept within the non-concessional cap.
- Contributions tax. 15% of before-tax contributions, after deducting admin fees and insurance, plus Division 293 tax for high incomes, less any low income super tax offset.
- Fees. Dollar admin fees and insurance premiums rise with wages; the percentage fee is charged on the balance.
- Return. Contributions and fees are treated as arriving mid-year and the balance earns the return you choose, after investment fees and tax.
- Today's dollars. Each future balance is divided by 1.037 for every year ahead, the ASIC default wage inflation of 3.7%.
The yearly income estimate spreads the retirement balance over the years to age 92, with payments rising by 2.5% a year (CPI) and the balance still earning your return. It is super alone; the Age Pension is extra for many retirees.
How to use this superannuation calculator
- Enter your age and retirement age. You can access super from 60 once you retire; the Age Pension starts at 67.
- Add your super balance. Combine every fund. Your balance is on your latest statement, your fund's app or the ATO's online services through myGov.
- Enter your salary. Your yearly pay before tax and super, from your payslip or employment contract.
- Choose an investment option. The return fills in automatically using Moneysmart's defaults; change it to test a different rate.
- Check the employer rate. Leave 12% unless your employer pays more. Self-employed people enter 0 and put their own contributions in salary sacrifice.
- Add extra contributions. Enter salary sacrifice or after-tax amounts per year.
- Review fees. Open Fees and assumptions and enter your fund's admin fee and insurance from its product disclosure statement.
- Read and test the result. Compare with the ASFA target, open the year-by-year table, try another return or retirement age, then download a PDF or CSV.
What is the Super Guarantee in Australia?
The Super Guarantee is the minimum super your employer must pay for you: 12% of your ordinary time earnings since 1 July 2025. It is paid on top of your salary, not out of it, unless your contract says your package includes super.
From 1 July 2026, Payday Super requires employers to pay super with each pay, with contributions generally reaching your fund within seven business days, instead of quarterly. Contributions stop increasing once your earnings pass the maximum contribution base of $270,830 a year, where the 12% equals $32,499.60.
On a $95,000 salary, the Super Guarantee is $11,400 a year, or $438.46 a fortnight. Check your payslips and fund statements match; if they do not, ask your employer and then contact the ATO.
How much super will I have when I retire?
How much super you retire with depends mostly on how many years you have left, your salary and your investment return. The table shows the projection at 67 for someone earning $95,000, with balances typical of each starting age, using the calculator's default assumptions.
| Age now | Balance now | At 67, future $ | At 67, today's $ | Income a year to 92 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | $20,000 | $3,060,959.24 | $665,502.63 | $40,432.19 |
| 35 | $85,000 | $1,871,735.30 | $585,226.83 | $35,555.09 |
| 45 | $160,000 | $1,137,058.60 | $511,269.88 | $31,061.88 |
| 55 | $260,000 | $712,237.83 | $460,553.36 | $27,980.63 |
Worked examples
Each example uses the calculator's defaults (balanced 6.1% return, $59 plus 0.11% admin fees, $599 insurance, 3.7% wage growth) unless stated, and retirement at 67.
Age 35, $95,000 salary, $85,000 balance
Employer super is $11,400 in the first year. After 32 years of contributions, fees and growth the balance is $1,871,735.30 in future dollars, or $585,226.83 today: 93% of ASFA's comfortable single target.
Same person, $100 a week salary sacrifice
Sacrificing $5,200 a year, rising with wages, lifts the balance at 67 from $585,226.83 to $785,917.73 in today's dollars. At a 30% tax rate plus Medicare, it also cuts income tax by about $884 a year after the 15% contributions tax.
Age 55, catching up with $18,000 a year
On $120,000 with $260,000 in super, adding $18,000 a year of salary sacrifice takes the balance at 67 from $494,875.29 to $691,888.80 in today's dollars. In later years it is trimmed to stay within the concessional cap.
Self-employed at 40, $90,000 income
With no employer super, $110,000 grows to only $174,315.82 by 67 in today's dollars. Making $15,000 a year of personal deductible contributions lifts it to $637,780.93, about $38,748 a year of income to age 92.
Age 30, $40,000 salary
Employer super is $4,800 a year. From 2027-28 the low income super tax offset of up to $810 refunds the 15% contributions tax for earners up to $45,000. With $25,000 today, the balance reaches $291,086.69 at 67 in today's dollars.
What fees cost the 35-year-old
The default $59 plus 0.11% admin fee and $599 insurance cost $62,956.16 over 32 years. Without them the balance at 67 would be $40,506.95 higher in today's dollars. A 1% admin fee would cut it to $481,149.16.
How contributions, fees and returns affect your balance
Investment returns have the biggest effect on a long projection, then extra contributions, then fees. For the 35-year-old example, the gap between a cash option and a high growth option is $313,806 at 67 in today's dollars, while $100 a week of salary sacrifice adds $200,691 and the default fees cost $40,507.
Investment option
| Option | Return | At 67, today's $ | Of ASFA single target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | 3.7% | $363,832.07 | 58% |
| Conservative | 4.9% | $458,855.27 | 73% |
| Moderate | 5.7% | $539,011.07 | 86% |
| Balanced | 6.1% | $585,226.83 | 93% |
| Growth | 6.4% | $622,927.87 | 99% |
| High growth | 6.8% | $677,637.72 | 108% |
Higher-growth options hold more shares and property, so they earn more over long periods but can fall in some years. Most funds' default MySuper option is a balanced or growth mix.
Fees
| Admin fee | Fees over 32 years | At 67, today's $ | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| $59 plus 0.11% of balance | $62,956.16 | $585,226.83 | $0.00 |
| $59 plus 0.50% of balance | $141,260.81 | $536,689.59 | $-48,537.24 |
| $59 plus 1.00% of balance | $228,627.98 | $481,149.16 | $-104,077.67 |
Salary sacrifice
| Salary sacrifice | At 67, today's $ | Extra |
|---|---|---|
| $0 a week ($0 a year) | $585,226.83 | $0.00 |
| $50 a week ($2,600 a year) | $685,572.28 | $100,345.45 |
| $100 a week ($5,200 a year) | $785,917.73 | $200,690.90 |
| $200 a week ($10,400 a year) | $986,608.64 | $401,381.81 |
How much super might you need to retire?
ASFA's Retirement Standard estimates a single homeowner needs $630,000 in super at 67 for a comfortable retirement, and a couple $730,000, assuming a part Age Pension. A modest retirement needs $110,000 for a single and $120,000 for a couple, because the Age Pension covers most of the basics.
| Lifestyle | Yearly spending | Super needed at 67 |
|---|---|---|
| Comfortable, single | $56,166 | $630,000 |
| Comfortable, couple | $78,998 | $730,000 |
| Modest, single | $36,548 | $110,000 |
| Modest, couple | $52,690 | $120,000 |
How much super do I need to retire at 55, 60 or 65?
Retiring before 67 needs more super, because there is no Age Pension until then. A single homeowner wanting ASFA's comfortable lifestyle needs about $850,000 to retire at 60 and about $698,000 at 65, on our estimate.
| Retire at | Years before 67 | To cover the gap | For 67 onwards | Total needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | 12 | $561,000 | $416,000 | $978,000 |
| 60 | 7 | $355,000 | $495,000 | $850,000 |
| 65 | 2 | $110,000 | $588,000 | $698,000 |
| 67 | 0 | $0 | $630,000 | $630,000 |
Renters need more: ASFA's modest budget for a single renter is $51,418 a year against $36,548 for a homeowner. Your own target depends on your spending, so compare the calculator's yearly income figure with what you expect to spend.
Super contribution caps and tax considerations
Before-tax contributions are taxed at 15% in your fund, which is why salary sacrifice saves tax for most workers, but they are limited to $32,500 a year in 2026-27 including employer super. After-tax contributions are limited to $130,000 a year. Check your remaining room in the super contribution cap calculator.
Concessional contributions
Employer super, salary sacrifice and personal contributions you claim as a tax deduction all count towards the $32,500 cap. If your total super balance was under $500,000 on 30 June, you can use unused cap from the previous five years. Contributions over the cap are taxed at your marginal rate.
Salary sacrifice tax saving
The saving is the gap between your marginal tax rate and the 15% contributions tax. On a $95,000 salary, $5,200 sacrificed saves 32% income tax and Medicare levy but costs 15% in the fund: a net saving of $884 a year. Use the income tax calculator Australia to check your marginal rate and take-home pay.
Division 293 and high balances
If your income plus before-tax contributions is over $250,000, Division 293 adds a further 15% tax on those contributions. From 1 July 2026, Division 296 also taxes realised earnings on the part of a total super balance above $3 million, with a higher rate above $10 million.
Low income super tax offset
If your income is $37,000 or less in 2026-27, the ATO refunds the 15% tax on your before-tax contributions, up to $500. From 1 July 2027 the threshold rises to $45,000 and the maximum to $810.
Limits of super projections
A super projection is a model built on steady assumptions, not a forecast of your final balance. Real returns vary from year to year and can be negative, wages do not rise smoothly, and caps, tax rules and the Age Pension change over time.
The calculator does not model career breaks, part-time years, government co-contributions, spouse contributions, downsizer contributions, carry-forward of unused cap, defined benefit funds or tax on withdrawals before 60. The Division 293 and low income offset thresholds are held at today's value in real terms, because their dollar amounts are not indexed in law.
How close is this estimate?
The method, default returns, fees and inflation rates match those published for the Moneysmart superannuation calculator, so results for the same inputs should be close. Treat the figure as a planning estimate, re-run it each year with your latest statement, and consider licensed financial advice before making large contributions.
Common superannuation calculation mistakes
The biggest projection mistakes come from reading future dollars as today's dollars and from optimistic returns.
- Reading future dollars as today's. $1,871,735 at 67 buys what $585,227 buys now, at 3.7% wage inflation.
- Using a return before fees and tax. A 9% headline year is not a 9% average after tax and fees; the balanced default is 6.1%.
- Forgetting contributions tax. $11,400 of employer super becomes $9,788.70 in the fund after 15% tax on the amount above fees and insurance.
- Ignoring the concessional cap. Employer super counts towards the $32,500 cap, so on $95,000 there is $21,100 of room, not $32,500.
- Leaving out insurance premiums. At $599 a year, rising with wages, premiums are most of the default fee cost.
- Comparing with the wrong target. ASFA's $630,000 assumes retiring at 67 with a part Age Pension and owning your home.
Frequently asked questions
It depends on your salary and when you plan to retire, but you can check whether you are on track with this calculator. On the default path, someone earning $95,000 who has $85,000 at 35 has about $205,802 at 45, $356,000 at 55 and $444,293 at 60 in today's dollars, reaching $585,227 at 67.
Not usually. The 12% Super Guarantee is paid on top of your salary unless your employment contract states a total package that includes super. Employer super is not included in your taxable income, but it counts towards the $32,500 concessional cap.
You can usually access super once you reach your preservation age of 60 and retire, or at 65 even if you are still working. Limited early release is possible in cases such as severe financial hardship or a terminal illness. A transition to retirement income stream lets you draw some super from 60 while working.
For most people earning over $45,000 it saves tax, because sacrificed salary is taxed at 15% in super instead of your marginal rate. On $95,000, $5,200 a year saves about $884 in tax and adds about $200,691 to super at 67 in today's dollars. The money is locked away until you can access super, so keep enough for other goals.
Ask your employer first, then report unpaid super to the ATO through ATO online services in myGov. Under Payday Super from 1 July 2026, contributions should generally reach your fund within seven business days of each payday, so a missing payment shows up quickly in your fund account.
That depends on how much you draw each year and your returns. The calculator shows the yearly income your balance could pay until age 92, with payments rising with inflation. For the 35-year-old example, $585,227 in today's dollars at 67 supports about $35,555 a year before any Age Pension.
Use a long-run average after tax and investment fees, not one year's result. Moneysmart's defaults, used here, are 3.7% for cash, 4.9% conservative, 5.7% moderate, 6.1% balanced, 6.4% growth and 6.8% high growth. Test a lower return too, because the average can disappoint.
Yes, but each fund usually charges its own admin fees and insurance, which can cut your balance. Find all your accounts in ATO online services and consider combining them after checking any insurance you would lose. Enter your combined balance in the calculator.
Super is ignored for the Age Pension assets and income tests while you are under Age Pension age and it stays in accumulation. Once you reach 67, or start a pension from it, it counts. ASFA's lump sum targets assume you receive a part Age Pension.
No, it is an independent calculator from My Easy Calculator, but it uses the method and default assumptions Moneysmart publishes, so results should be close. It adds a comparison with ASFA's targets, a yearly income estimate, the cost of fees and tools to test returns and retirement age.
Sources
- Superannuation calculator: assumptions, Moneysmart, Australian Securities and Investments Commission, last updated 2 July 2026. Checked .
- Key superannuation rates and thresholds, Australian Taxation Office. Checked .
- What is Payday Super, Moneysmart. Checked .
- Low Income Superannuation Tax Offset, The Treasury, 13 October 2025. Checked .
- ASFA Retirement Standard, June quarter 2026, Moneysmart glossary. Checked .
- Understanding ASFA Retirement Standard's new lump sums, Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia, February 2026. Checked .
- Superannuation forecasts: Regulatory Guide 276 and ASIC Instrument 2022/603 wage inflation assumption, ASIC. Checked .
- Legislation: Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992; Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Division 291 (excess concessional contributions), Division 292 (excess non-concessional contributions), Division 293; Treasury Laws Amendment (Building a Stronger and Fairer Super System) Act 2026 (Division 296 and LISTO).
Related calculators
- Super contribution cap calculatorHow much room is left under your concessional and non-concessional caps, including carry-forward.
- Income tax calculator AustraliaYour income tax, Medicare levy and take-home pay, and your marginal rate.
- Mortgage repayment calculatorHome loan repayments and how extra repayments help you own your home by retirement.
- Redundancy pay calculatorRedundancy pay under the National Employment Standards by years of service.
- Fringe benefits tax calculatorFBT on cars and other benefits, useful when comparing salary packaging with salary sacrifice.
- Negative gearing calculatorRental property tax effect, if you are weighing property against extra super.
Disclaimer
Calculation methodology sourced from official government publications. See our Editorial Policy for how we build and maintain our calculators.
This is a model based on assumptions, not a prediction, and not financial advice. Your final super depends on your circumstances, returns, fees, tax and law changes. Consider your fund's product disclosure statement and licensed financial advice before changing contributions or investment options.