💰 Superannuation Calculator

Project your retirement savings with Australian superannuation contributions. Includes 11.5% super guarantee (2025).

Projected Balance at Retirement

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Years to Retirement — Total Contributions — Investment Earnings —

Balance Breakdown

Growth by Age

GUIDE

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Understanding Superannuation: The Basics

The Super Guarantee (SG) requires employers to contribute 11.5% of ordinary time earnings (2025) to employees' super funds. For an employee earning $85,000 annually, the 11.5% SG equals $9,775 in annual employer contributions. Voluntary contributions can boost retirement savings further. Super funds invest your money in shares, property and bonds, with balanced funds historically delivering around 7.5% annually over the past 20 years. SG applies regardless of age or employment type, paid quarterly to complying funds.

Voluntary Contributions and Strategies

Salary sacrifice (concessional contributions) directs pre-tax salary into super, taxed at just 15% within the fund versus marginal rates up to 47%. The concessional cap is $30,000 annually (2024-25), including employer SG. After-tax (non-concessional) contributions allow up to $120,000 annually, with a bring-forward rule permitting up to $360,000 immediately. Low to middle-income earners may receive government co-contributions up to $500 annually.

Super Fund Investment Options

Balanced options (the default for many funds) hold 60-70% growth assets and 30-40% defensive assets, targeting 6-8% annual returns. Growth and high-growth options allocate 80-100% to growth assets, targeting 8-10% but accepting greater volatility — suitable for younger members. Choose based on your age, risk tolerance and time until retirement. Within 10 years of retirement, gradually reduce growth asset exposure to protect accumulated savings.

Super Taxation and Tax Benefits

Concessional contributions are taxed at 15% within the fund, significantly below most marginal rates. Investment earnings are taxed at maximum 15%. $100,000 growing at 8% for 30 years becomes $1,006,000 in super versus $761,000 in personal investments at a 37% marginal rate. Once you retire and transfer super into pension phase, investment earnings become entirely tax-free, and pension withdrawals are tax-free if you're over 60.

Accessing Your Super and Retirement Planning

Super is preserved until you reach preservation age (55-60 depending on birth year) and retire, or reach 65. ASFA estimates a comfortable retirement requires $595,000 for singles and $690,000 for couples (2024). A 30-year-old earning $85,000 with $100,000 current super, receiving 11.5% SG only, reaches approximately $1.2 million by age 67 (at 7% returns). Adding just $100 monthly extra increases this to $1.45 million.

Using This Superannuation Calculator

Enter your age, current super balance, annual salary and expected retirement age. The default contribution rate is 11.5% SG — increase it to model salary sacrifice. The default 7% return reflects long-term balanced fund returns; conservative investors might use 5-6%, aggressive 8-9%. Experiment with different retirement ages and additional monthly contributions to quantify the long-term impact, then use the results to inform discussions with a financial adviser.

Frequently asked questions

What is the super guarantee rate?

As of 2025, employers must contribute 11.5% of an employee's earnings to their super fund.

How do I choose an expected return?

The default 7% reflects long-term balanced fund returns. Conservative investors might use 5-6%, while aggressive growth investors use 8-9%.