Retirement calculator
This retirement calculator projects how much super you could have when you stop work. It grows your balance with the 12% employer contribution, your pay rises and any extra contributions, then shows the result in today's dollars and the rough yearly income it could support. Use it as a super projection calculator to see whether you are on track.
Updated 12 November 2026 · Uses 2026-27 figures
Project your super at retirement
Enter your age, balance, salary and the return you expect after fees.
General information only, not financial, tax or legal advice. Results are estimates based on 2026-27 figures and the assumptions shown. Check your award, agreement or a qualified adviser for your situation.
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Find workHow to use the retirement calculator
- Enter your age now and the age you plan to retire at.
- Add your super balance today and your salary before super.
- Set salary growth per year. Around 3% matches long-run wage growth.
- Add any extra contributions per year, such as salary sacrifice or personal deductible contributions.
- Choose a return after fees and read your projected balance in today's dollars.
How the super projection works
Each year the calculator adds 12% of your salary plus any extra contributions, takes out 15% contributions tax, then grows the balance by your chosen return. Your salary rises by the growth rate you set. At the end, it divides the balance by 3% inflation for every year to give a figure in today's dollars, which is easier to compare with what you spend now.
Worked example. You are 32, earn $75,000 before super, have $40,000 in super and plan to retire at 67. Your pay grows 3% a year and your fund returns 6.5% after fees.
Over 35 years your balance reaches about $1,728,210 in future dollars. That is about $614,177 in today's dollars. Drawing 5% a year would give a rough income of $30,709 a year in today's dollars, before any Age Pension.
Adding $3,000 a year of extra contributions lifts the result to about $726,581 in today's dollars, and the 5% draw to $36,329 a year.
The 5% draw is a simple rule of thumb, not a plan. How long money lasts depends on your spending, investment mix and how long you live.
How much super do I need to retire?
It depends on the lifestyle you want, whether you own your home and whether you will receive part of the Age Pension. Many people aim for an income in retirement of around two-thirds of their pre-retirement income, but a renter usually needs more than a home owner.
Things that move the answer most:
- Housing. Owning your home outright cuts the income you need by more than any other single factor.
- Age Pension. A part pension can top up a modest balance. This calculator does not include it.
- Retirement age. Each extra year of work adds contributions and returns and removes a year of drawing down.
- Fees and returns. A 1% difference in yearly returns over 35 years changes the final balance by hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Moneysmart's retirement planning tools and a licensed financial adviser can help you set a target for your own situation.
What is the retirement age in Australia?
Australia has no compulsory retirement age. Two ages matter for money:
| Age | What happens |
|---|---|
| 60 (preservation age) | You can access super if you retire, or start a transition to retirement income stream while still working. |
| 65 | You can access super even if you are still working. |
| 67 | Age Pension age for anyone born on or after 1 January 1957. |
The calculator defaults to 67 because that is when most people can combine super with any Age Pension they qualify for.
Ways to grow super before retirement
- Salary sacrifice. Before-tax contributions are taxed at 15% instead of your marginal rate. The concessional cap is $32,500 for 2026-27, including the 12% from your employer. See the salary sacrifice calculator.
- Check your employer pays on time. From 1 July 2026 super must be paid with every pay run, so missing payments are quicker to spot.
- Combine accounts. Several accounts mean several sets of fees and insurance premiums. Casual and labour hire workers are most at risk of this.
- Watch fees. Compare your fund's fees and long-term returns using the ATO YourSuper comparison tool.
- Keep working steadily. Gaps between jobs stop contributions. Regular shifts through an agency keep super flowing between permanent roles.
Limits of this projection
The result assumes a steady return every year, a constant salary growth rate and no breaks from work. Real returns move up and down, and the order of good and bad years matters near retirement. The projection also ignores insurance premiums inside super, the Age Pension, tax on earnings in retirement phase and any lump sums you take out. It is general information only. For advice about your own super, speak with a licensed financial adviser.
Frequently asked questions
How much super should I have to retire?
There is no single number. It depends on the income you want, whether you own your home and whether you get part of the Age Pension. Home owners need less than renters. Use the calculator to see what your current path produces, then compare it with the yearly income you expect to need.
What is the retirement age in Australia?
There is no compulsory retirement age. You can usually access super from 60 if you retire, or from 65 even if you keep working. The Age Pension age is 67.
How long will my retirement money last?
It depends on how much you draw each year and the return on what is left. Drawing about 5% of your starting balance each year and adjusting for inflation is a common rough guide, but higher spending early in retirement or poor returns will shorten it.
Does this retirement calculator include the Age Pension?
No. It shows super only. Many retirees receive a part Age Pension on top of super, depending on the assets and income tests, so your total retirement income may be higher than the super-only figure.
How much does salary growth change my super?
A lot over a long career, because the 12% employer contribution rises with your pay. In the worked example, 3% salary growth means your final-year salary is about $211,040 in future dollars, and contributions grow with it.
What return should I use?
Use a long-run figure after fees, not one year's result. A balanced or growth option has historically returned somewhere in the mid-single digits after fees over long periods, but past returns do not guarantee future returns.
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General information only, not financial, tax or legal advice. Results are estimates based on 2026-27 figures and the assumptions shown. Check your award, agreement or a qualified adviser for your situation.