Superannuation Rate 2025-26: What You Should Be Getting
The super guarantee rate is now 12% from 1 July 2025. How much you should be getting, who qualifies, and what to do if your employer is not paying.
By Timothy Hirou GaschereauPublished 9 min read
The superannuation guarantee quietly builds your retirement savings in the background, but "quietly" can shade into "invisibly", and invisible money is easy to miss. The headline number to know: the super guarantee (SG) rate is now 12% of your ordinary time earnings, from 1 July 2025, and that is the legislated endpoint.
Here is how much super you should actually be getting, who is entitled, when it has to be paid, and what to do if it is not showing up. General information only, not advice, and rates and rules change, so check the ATO for the latest.
🎯 The essential: The SG rate is 12% from 1 July 2025 (up from 11.5%), and there are no further rises scheduled. It is paid on your ordinary time earnings (base pay, most bonuses, commissions and loadings, but not overtime), on top of your wages. Most employees are covered, including casuals and part-timers, since the old $450/month threshold was scrapped in July 2022. Super must be paid at least quarterly now, moving to payday super from 1 July 2026. If it is not being paid, report it to the ATO.
What the Superannuation Guarantee is
The Superannuation Guarantee (SG) is the compulsory super your employer must pay on top of your wages, legislated and enforced by the ATO. The point is to make sure Australians build retirement savings and are not entirely reliant on the Age Pension. It is paid directly into your nominated super fund and does not come out of your take-home pay (unless you set up a separate salary sacrifice arrangement).
The current super rate (2025-26)
The current SG rate is 12% of ordinary time earnings, effective 1 July 2025. After a decade of gradual increases, 12% is the endpoint: no further rises are currently scheduled. Here is how it has moved:
| Financial year | SG rate |
|---|---|
| 2021-22 | 10% |
| 2022-23 | 10.5% |
| 2023-24 | 11% |
| 2024-25 | 11.5% |
| 2025-26 | 12% |
How much super should you be getting?
The maths is simple: multiply your ordinary time earnings by 12%.
- $50,000 salary: $6,000 a year ($1,500 a quarter).
- $70,000 salary: $8,400 a year ($2,100 a quarter).
- $100,000 salary: $12,000 a year ($3,000 a quarter).
One catch for higher earners: there is a maximum super contribution base ($62,500 per quarter for 2025-26). Above that, your employer is not required to pay SG on the excess, so the required SG is capped at about $7,500 a quarter regardless of how much more you earn.
What counts as ordinary time earnings (OTE)
SG applies to ordinary time earnings, not every dollar you are paid. Getting this right matters:
- Generally included: base salary and wages, commissions and shift loadings for ordinary hours, most bonuses for ordinary hours, allowances, and paid leave (annual, sick, long service).
- Generally excluded: overtime pay (the big one), expense reimbursements, and some termination payments.
The exact line can depend on your contract and award, and the ATO has detailed guidance if you are unsure.
Who is entitled to super
Most employees working in Australia are entitled:
- Employees of any age, earning any amount (the $450/month minimum was removed on 1 July 2022, bringing many low-income and casual workers into the system).
- Part-time and casual workers, full stop.
- Under-18s, if they work more than 30 hours in a week.
- Some contractors paid mainly for their labour (the ATO looks at the substance of the arrangement, not the label).
Genuine independent contractors paid for a result, and some domestic workers under 30 hours a week, are generally not covered.
When super must be paid
Until 30 June 2026, employers must pay SG at least quarterly, within 28 days of the end of each quarter (28 October, 28 January, 28 April, 28 July). Many pay monthly or per pay run, which is fine; quarterly is the minimum.
From 1 July 2026, payday super begins: employers must pay super at the same time as wages, with contributions reaching your fund within 7 business days of each payday. Under the current quarterly system, unpaid super can go unnoticed for months; payday super makes gaps show up almost immediately, which is a real win for employees.
How to check it is being paid (and report if not)
Do not assume it is all happening. To check:
- Log into your super fund and look for regular contributions matching your pay.
- Check your payslip (if it shows super) against the 12% calculation.
- Use myGov linked to the ATO to see employer-reported contributions (allow a lag, especially with quarterly payers).
- Do the maths: gross OTE x 12% versus what landed in your fund.
If it is not being paid, raise it with your employer first (often a genuine admin error), then report it to the ATO with their online tool. The ATO can recover the amount plus interest, and employers who miss the deadline face the Super Guarantee Charge (unpaid super + interest + an admin fee), which costs more than paying on time.
One more thing worth knowing: your employer's SG counts toward your concessional contributions cap ($30,000 for 2025-26), so factor SG in before ramping up salary sacrifice.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What is the current superannuation rate in Australia?
+
The superannuation guarantee (SG) rate is 12% of your ordinary time earnings, effective from 1 July 2025. This is the legislated endpoint, with no further increases currently scheduled.
Has the super rate changed in 2025-26?
+
Yes. The SG rate rose from 11.5% to 12% on 1 July 2025. It has climbed gradually since 2021-22 (when it was 10%) and has now reached its legislated ceiling.
Does the super rate apply to casual and part-time workers?
+
Yes, exactly as it does for full-time employees. Since 1 July 2022 there is no minimum income threshold, so even low-income casuals are entitled to super on every dollar of ordinary time earnings. Under-18s must work more than 30 hours in a week.
What is payday super and when does it start?
+
Payday super requires employers to pay super at the same time as wages instead of quarterly. It is legislated and starts on 1 July 2026, with contributions to reach your fund within 7 business days of each payday. It makes unpaid super far easier to spot.
What happens if my employer does not pay my super?
+
Raise it with them first (it is often an admin error), then report it to the ATO with their online tool. The ATO can recover the unpaid amount plus interest, and employers who miss the deadline face the Super Guarantee Charge, which costs more than paying on time.
Does the super rate apply to overtime pay?
+
No. Super is calculated on ordinary time earnings, which generally exclude overtime. Base pay, most bonuses, commissions and shift loadings for ordinary hours are included; overtime usually is not.
Keep reading
The bottom line
Super is now 12%, it is your money, and it is easy to check. Once a quarter (or once a payday from mid-2026), take two minutes to confirm the right amount is landing in your fund. Small gaps, caught early, are far easier to fix than years of missing contributions found too late.
📚 Recommended reading
The Barefoot Investor
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The Barefoot Investor
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Australia's best-selling money book ever. A simple system for accounts, budgeting, debt and a real emergency fund in one.
Making Money Made Simple
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Australia's classic, comprehensive money guide covering tax, super and investing, updated for today.
Money School
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Some links above are affiliate links. If you buy through them, Snowball Invest may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend books we'd suggest anyway.
Sources
This article is general information only, not financial advice. Superannuation rates, caps and rules are set by the government and change over time. Check the ATO for current figures and your eligibility, and consider advice from a licensed professional for your situation.
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General information only. This article is educational and does not constitute personal financial advice. It does not account for your circumstances. Consider your own situation and seek advice from a licensed adviser before acting. Read our full disclaimer.
Timothy Hirou Gaschereau
Founder of Snowball Invest, not a financial adviser.
I write about what I'm learning myself, because nobody ever taught us how to take control of our own money. It's a skill, not a mystery, and it's never too late to learn it. The best day to start was yesterday, the second best is today.
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