๐งฎ NEW: All 9 Australian financial calculators in one place โ ozfinancecalc.com.auOpen All Calculators โ
Super Fund Calculator Australia 2026
Project your superannuation balance at retirement, model the impact of salary sacrifice and compare how fund performance affects your final outcome. Updated for 11.5% SG rate.
Enter your current super balance, age and salary โ instant projection.
2
Add voluntary contributions and salary sacrifice โ see the impact.
3
Compare fund performance scenarios โ see how returns affect your balance at 67.
Reviewed by the ozfinancecalc.com.au editorial team ยท Last reviewed: May 2026 ยท SG rate and concessional caps current as of 2025-26Sources: ATO ยท ASIC MoneySmart
๐ Retirement Projection
๐ผ Salary Sacrifice Calculator
๐ Am I On Track?
๐ข
Superannuation Retirement Projection โ 2026
$
$
11.5% for 2024-25 ยท rising to 12% from 1 Jul 2025
Projection assumes constant salary, contribution rate and investment return for the full period. In practice, contributions, returns and fees will vary. Per ASIC MoneySmart, this calculator is for general guidance only. Obtain personalised advice from a licensed financial adviser.
Age
Year
SG + Sacrifice
Investment Earnings
Fees
Balance
How different annual investment returns affect your final balance โ all other factors held constant.
Annual Return
Balance at 67
vs Base Case (7%)
Comfortable Retirement?
Estimated annual income from your projected super balance, based on different drawdown rates.
Drawdown Strategy
Annual Income
Lasts Until Age
Notes
Age Pension supplement: The full Age Pension (age 67+) provides approximately $26,820/year for singles and $40,400/year for couples. If your super runs low, the pension supplements your income. A combined super + pension strategy is used by most Australian retirees.
๐ง Email My Super Projection
Get your full retirement projection and year-by-year growth sent to your inbox.
โ Sent! Check your inbox.
๐ฐ Boost Your Super With Salary Sacrifice
Salary sacrifice is taxed at 15% inside super instead of your marginal rate. On a $95,000 salary, sacrificing $10,000/year saves $2,200 in income tax while boosting your retirement savings.
Source: ATO superannuation statistics 2024. "On Track" assumes 7% p.a. growth to comfortable retirement.
๐ก
Super Tips โ Australia 2026
Salary sacrifice saves tax
Salary sacrifice is taxed at 15% inside super vs your marginal rate (up to 45%). On a $100k salary, $10k sacrifice saves $2,350 in income tax while boosting retirement savings. The concessional cap is $30,000/yr including employer SG.
Find your lost super
Billions in unclaimed super sits with the ATO. Check myGov โ ATO โ Super โ Find lost super. Consolidating multiple accounts also eliminates duplicate fees โ each extra account costs you money every year.
Compare fund performance
A 1% difference in annual returns compounded over 30 years on $100,000 creates a $130,000 difference in final balance. Use APRA's YourSuper comparison tool or ATO's super comparison at ato.gov.au.
Government co-contribution
If you earn under $58,445 and make personal after-tax super contributions, the government may add up to $500. At $43,445 income, a $1,000 personal contribution gets the full $500 co-contribution โ a guaranteed 50% return.
Carry-forward unused cap
If your super balance is under $500,000 and you haven't hit the $30,000 concessional cap in prior years, you can carry forward unused amounts and make larger catch-up contributions. Useful after a low-income period or career break.
Check investment option
Most funds default to a balanced option. If you're under 45 with 20+ years to retirement, a high-growth option (100% growth assets) has historically outperformed balanced over the long term โ typically 1-2% p.a. higher returns.
โ
Superannuation FAQ โ Australia 2026
How much super should I have at my age in Australia?
ASFA benchmarks suggest: age 35: $62,000; age 40: $100,000; age 45: $154,000; age 50: $232,000; age 55: $318,000; age 60: $423,000. These are targets for a comfortable retirement at 67. The ATO median balances are lower โ median age 40 balance is approximately $82,600 โ meaning many Australians are behind these targets. Use our calculator to project your balance and see if you're on track.
What is the superannuation guarantee rate in 2025-26?
The superannuation guarantee (SG) rate for 2024-25 is 11.5%, rising to 12% from 1 July 2025. Employers must pay SG on top of your ordinary time earnings for all eligible employees. The SG rate has been rising incrementally toward the long-term target of 12%. Check your payslip to confirm your employer is paying the correct rate โ non-payment is illegal and reportable to the ATO.
How much do I need in super to retire comfortably in Australia?
ASFA's comfortable retirement standard requires approximately $595,000 for a single person and $690,000 for a couple at age 67. This provides an income of approximately $52,000/year for singles and $73,000/year for couples. The Age Pension supplements super income โ many retirees combine super drawdowns with partial pension payments. At a 5% drawdown rate, $595,000 provides approximately $29,750/year in super income.
Can I access my super early in Australia?
Access to super before preservation age (60 for most Australians) is restricted to specific circumstances including: permanent incapacity, terminal medical condition, severe financial hardship (subject to approval), compassionate grounds (APRA or ATO approval), and some temporary residents departing Australia. Accessing super early reduces your retirement balance significantly due to lost compound growth. The government monitors early access applications.
What happens to my super if I change jobs?
Since November 2021, super follows you when you change jobs โ your stapled fund is automatically linked to your new employment unless you nominate a different fund. You can also choose to consolidate multiple super accounts into one fund to avoid paying fees on multiple accounts. Check via myGov which funds you have and consolidate to minimise fees.
Is salary sacrifice worth it for super in Australia?
For most people earning above $37,500 (where the marginal rate exceeds the 15% super tax), salary sacrifice is beneficial. The higher your income, the greater the tax saving. On $95,000 salary, sacrificing $10,000/year saves approximately $2,350 in income tax. Over 20 years at 7% growth, that $10,000/year plus tax saving compounded generates significantly more than the same amount invested elsewhere after tax. However, super is illiquid โ ensure you maintain sufficient accessible savings for emergencies.
What is the concessional contributions cap for 2025-26?
The concessional (before-tax) contributions cap is $30,000 per year for 2025-26. This includes your employer's SG contributions, salary sacrifice contributions and any personal deductible contributions. Exceeding the cap means the excess is taxed at your marginal rate plus an excess contributions charge. If your employer pays $11,500 SG on a $100,000 salary (11.5%), you can salary sacrifice up to $18,500 before hitting the cap.
๐ Project your balance to retirement at 67
๐ผ Salary sacrifice โ taxed at 15% not your rate
๐ฆ Fund performance โ 1% more = $130k extra
๐งฎ Australian Financial Calculator Network
Free tools to help Australians make smarter financial decisions
Super is the most tax-effective place most Australians can put long-term money. From 1 July 2025 the Superannuation Guarantee is 12% โ the final scheduled increase โ so your employer must pay 12% of your ordinary earnings into super on top of your wage. The real wealth, though, comes from compounding over decades and from super's low 15% tax rate on contributions and earnings.
2025โ26 contribution caps
Concessional (before-tax) cap: $30,000 โ covers employer SG, salary sacrifice and personal deductible contributions, taxed at 15% in the fund. (Rising to $32,500 from 1 July 2026.)
Non-concessional (after-tax) cap: $120,000 โ or up to $360,000 using the 3-year bring-forward rule, subject to your total super balance.
Div 293: if your income plus contributions exceeds $250,000, an extra 15% tax applies to concessional contributions.
Why salary sacrifice works: 15% vs your marginal rate
A salary-sacrificed dollar is taxed at 15% going into super, instead of your marginal rate on the way to your bank account. On $120,000 income (32% marginal incl. Medicare), sacrificing $10,000 means: outside super you'd keep ~$6,800 after tax; inside super, $8,500 lands after the 15% contributions tax. That's $1,700 less tax and ~$1,700 more invested, every year you do it โ before any investment growth.
Compounding does the heavy lifting
Because super is taxed at just 15% on earnings and left untouched for decades, small extra contributions compound dramatically. An extra $200/month from age 35, growing at ~7% p.a., is roughly $240,000+ more at age 65 than not contributing it โ most of which is growth, not your own money. The calculator above projects your balance with employer contributions and any extra you add.
Getting the most from super
Use the concessional cap โ salary sacrifice up toward $30,000 (including employer SG) if you can afford it.
Check carry-forward โ unused concessional cap from prior years can be used if your balance is under $500,000.
Consolidate accounts to stop paying multiple sets of fees.
Review your investment option โ fees and the growth/defensive mix matter enormously over decades.
What is the super guarantee rate now? 12% of ordinary time earnings from 1 July 2025 โ the final scheduled increase.
How much can I contribute? $30,000 concessional (before-tax) and $120,000 non-concessional (after-tax) in 2025โ26, subject to your total super balance.
Is salary sacrifice worth it? Usually yes if your marginal rate is above 15% โ contributions are taxed at 15% instead of your marginal rate, saving tax now and boosting your balance.
When can I access my super? Generally at your preservation age (60 for anyone born after June 1964) and on meeting a condition of release such as retirement.
What is Div 293? An extra 15% tax on concessional contributions for people whose income plus contributions exceeds $250,000.
General information only, based on 2025โ26 rules โ not financial advice, and projections are estimates that depend on returns, fees and contributions. Consider advice from a licensed financial adviser.
