How Much Super Should I Have at My Age?
Enter your age and super balance and find out in about 10 seconds whether you're on track. You'll see how you stack up against the median Australian your age (ATO data) and how far you are from a comfortable retirement. Two numbers, nothing saved.
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How Much Super Should You Have? (Why It Matters)
“How much super should I have?” is one of the most-Googled money questions in Australia, and for good reason: super is most people's second-biggest asset after their home, yet it's easy to ignore for decades. Most pages answer with a generic table. This one answers with your number: it checks your balance against real ATO median data for your age, shows the gap to the ASFA comfortable-retirement target, and points you to the handful of moves that actually shift the figure.
Beating the average isn't the finish line. The median is dragged down by career breaks and part-time work, so aim at the ASFA comfortable-retirement target for your age, not just the crowd.
Average Super Balance by Age (ATO Data)
Here's the median super balance by age band, straight from ATO Taxation Statistics (2022-23). Median means the middle person, half of Australians that age have more, half have less, so it's a fairer “typical” than an average that a handful of very large balances can drag upward.
| Age band | Median super balance |
|---|---|
| 30 to 34 | $36,000 |
| 35 to 39 | $57,000 |
| 40 to 44 | $90,000 |
| 45 to 49 | $144,000 |
| 50 to 54 | $165,000 |
| 55 to 59 | $207,000 |
Source: ATO Taxation Statistics 2022-23 (median balances). These are general benchmarks, not a projection of your situation. For a fuller breakdown, see our guide on how much super you should have by age.
What the ASFA “Comfortable Retirement” Target Actually Means
The number the check judges you against is the ASFA Retirement Standard: roughly $630,000 for a single and $730,000 for a couple by age 67, assuming you own your home and receive a part Age Pension. “Comfortable” isn't luxury, it covers regular social outings, top-level private health cover, a reliable car, home maintenance and the occasional trip. Think of it as a floor for a genuinely relaxed retirement, not a ceiling. Want to pressure-test your own number instead of the benchmark? Run it through our retirement calculator or read how much super you need to retire.
Why the Median Is a Low Bar
Beating the median feels good, but it's not the finish line. The typical balance is dragged down by career breaks, part-time work and the super gender gap, so “better than average” can still leave you well short of a comfortable retirement. That's why this check shows you two reference points: where the crowd is, and where you'd actually want to be. Aim at the target, not the average. If your balance is sitting low, the gender gap may be part of the story, our guide on the super gender gap covers why it happens and how to close it.
How to Close the Gap: The Levers You Can Pull
If you're behind, a few small, boring moves quietly do most of the work. Here's where to start:
- Salary sacrifice a little extra. Pre-tax contributions are taxed at 15%, not your marginal rate. How salary sacrifice works or model it with the calculator.
- Grab the government co-contribution. Earn under the threshold and add a bit after-tax, and the government chips in up to $500. Check if you're eligible.
- Use carry-forward (catch-up) contributions. If your balance is under $500k, you can use unused concessional caps from the last five years. How catch-up contributions work.
- Check what fees are costing you. A 1% difference compounds into tens of thousands over a career. Compare super funds or see the fee drag.
- Find and consolidate lost super. Multiple accounts mean duplicate fees and insurance quietly eating your balance. How to consolidate lost super.
Super by Age: What's Realistic at Each Life Stage
In your 20s: balances are small and that's completely normal, you've had only a few years of contributions. The win here isn't the number, it's picking a low-fee fund and letting decades of compounding start working.
In your 30s: career breaks, a mortgage and kids often slow contributions right when the median says you should be pulling ahead. A small salary sacrifice now is worth far more than a big one later.
In your 40s: this is the decade the gap to the comfortable target becomes visible. Consolidating accounts and a fee check are quick wins; catch-up contributions start to matter.
In your 50s: you're close enough to retirement that catch-up contributions and carry-forward caps punch well above their weight, and there's still plenty of time for them to work.
In your 60s: it's about the glide path, your investment option, when you can access super, and how the Age Pension fits in. See when you can actually access your super.
Where to Go From Here
Super is one piece of the picture. Once you've checked it, a couple of quick, free next steps:
- Thinking about stopping work early? Find out what type of FIRE you are and put a number on it with the FIRE number calculator.
- Investing outside super too? See what kind of investor you are.
- Curious how your habits shape all of this? Take the money personality quiz.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average super balance by age in Australia?
Using ATO Taxation Statistics (2022-23), median balances climb steadily with age: roughly $36,000 at 30-34, $57,000 at 35-39, $90,000 at 40-44, $144,000 at 45-49, $165,000 at 50-54 and $207,000 at 55-59. The check above compares your balance to the median for your exact age, then to the target you'd want to be tracking toward for a comfortable retirement.
How much super do I need to retire comfortably?
The widely used ASFA Retirement Standard puts a comfortable retirement at about $630,000 for a single and $730,000 for a couple by age 67, assuming you own your home and draw a part Age Pension. 'Comfortable' there means regular social outings, top-level private health cover, a reliable car and the occasional trip, not just covering the basics. It's a benchmark, not a hard line, your real number depends on your lifestyle.
How much super should I have at 35, 40 or 50?
As a rough median guide from ATO data: around $57,000 in your mid-30s, $90,000 at 40, and $165,000 by your early 50s. But the median is a low bar (most people still land short of a comfortable retirement), so it's more useful to track toward the ASFA target for your age than to just beat the average. The check above shows you both numbers at once.
What if my super balance is below average for my age?
Don't panic, it's genuinely common and very fixable. The highest-leverage moves are salary sacrificing a little extra (taxed at 15% instead of your marginal rate), grabbing the government co-contribution if you're eligible, consolidating any lost or duplicate accounts through myGov, and checking your fund's fees. If you're younger, time and compounding do most of the heavy lifting, so simply starting matters more than the amount.
How does the ASFA retirement standard work?
The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) publishes a quarterly benchmark for what a 'modest' and a 'comfortable' retirement cost, and the lump sum you'd want at 67 to fund it. The comfortable figure (about $630,000 single, $730,000 couple) assumes you own your home and receive a part Age Pension. It's the industry-standard yardstick, which is why this check uses it as the on-track target.
Is the super gender gap included in these averages?
Yes. Women retire with meaningfully less super on average, largely because of career breaks, more part-time work and the ongoing pay gap. If your balance looks low against the average, that context matters. Our guide on the super gender gap covers why it happens and the concrete moves (spouse contributions, co-contributions, catch-up caps) that help close it.
What is the superannuation guarantee rate?
Your employer must pay 12% of your ordinary wage into super (the guarantee rate reached 12% on 1 July 2025). That's a floor, not a cap. You can add more yourself through salary sacrifice or after-tax contributions, and for many people topping up even a little is the single biggest lever on the final number.
Can I access my super early if my balance is low?
Generally no. Super is preserved until you reach your preservation age (between 55 and 60 depending on when you were born) and retire, with only narrow exceptions such as severe financial hardship or compassionate grounds. A low balance on its own isn't a reason you can access it early. Our preservation age guide walks through the actual rules.
General information only, not financial advice. The figures here are public benchmarks (ATO Taxation Statistics and the ASFA Retirement Standard), not a projection of your personal situation. For advice based on your circumstances, use a licensed retirement calculator or speak with a licensed adviser.
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