Estimate how much super you'll have when you retire, using the 2026–27 super guarantee rate and contribution cap, and your own return and fee assumptions.
Assumptions
Key facts
- Employers pay 12% of your earnings into super in 2026–27; contributions are taxed 15% going in.
- Concessional contributions (employer super plus salary sacrifice) are capped at $32,500 in 2026–27.
- With the default assumptions (7% return, 0.85% fees, 3.5% wage growth, 2.5% inflation), a 35-year-old on $85,000 with $60,000 in super reaches about $756,977 at 67 in today's dollars.
- Results are in today's dollars so you can compare them with today's prices; the returns, fees and growth rates are assumptions you can change.
How it's worked out
- Each year, your employer pays 12% of your salary plus any salary sacrifice, up to the concessional cap (grown with wages); 15% contributions tax comes off.
- After-tax contributions go in without tax.
- The balance grows by the investment return less fees; contributions made during the year earn half a year's return.
- Your salary and the cap grow with wages, and the result is divided by inflation to show today's dollars.
Super at 67 by age, balance and salary
| Age now | Balance now | Salary | Super at 67 (today's dollars) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | $5,000 | $60,000 | $698,741 |
| 30 | $30,000 | $75,000 | $769,315 |
| 35 | $60,000 | $85,000 | $756,977 |
| 40 | $100,000 | $95,000 | $736,803 |
| 45 | $150,000 | $100,000 | $689,371 |
| 50 | $220,000 | $110,000 | $675,176 |
| 55 | $300,000 | $110,000 | $630,326 |
Effect of salary sacrifice
| Salary sacrifice a year | Super at 67 (today's dollars) |
|---|---|
| $0 | $756,977 |
| $2,000 | $831,345 |
| $5,000 | $942,899 |
| $10,000 | $1,128,821 |
Age 35, $60,000 balance, $85,000 salary, default assumptions.
Insurance premiums, career breaks, investment-earnings tax variations and the transfer balance cap aren't modelled. This is general information, not financial advice.
Common questions
How much super will I have when I retire?
It depends on your balance, salary, contributions, fees and returns. With default assumptions a 35-year-old earning $85,000 with $60,000 now would have about $756,977 at 67 in today's dollars.
What return should I use?
Long-run returns for growth-style super options have averaged around 6% to 8% a year before fees, but past returns don't guarantee future ones. Try a lower figure to see a cautious result.
Why show today's dollars?
A dollar in 30 years buys less than a dollar today. Dividing by inflation shows what the balance would be worth at today's prices.
Does salary sacrifice make a big difference?
Often, because it's taxed at 15% instead of your marginal rate. The salary sacrifice calculator shows the effect on your take-home pay.
See also super rates and thresholds, preservation age and the Age Pension calculator.
Super guarantee rate and caps: ATO super guarantee and contributions caps. Checked 22 October 2026.