Super calculator
Use this super calculator to work out how much superannuation your employer should pay on your wages in 2026-27, per week, fortnight and year. It applies the 12% super guarantee, takes out the 15% contributions tax and projects your balance to retirement, so you can check your payslip and see what your super could grow to.
Updated 12 November 2026 · Uses 2026-27 figures
Work out your employer super
Enter your yearly pay before super, your current balance and your age.
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.
Looking for steady shifts or a permanent role? TQN Personnel places casual, contract and permanent staff across Australia.
Find workHow to use the super calculator
- Enter your salary or wages per year before super. If you are paid hourly, multiply your rate by your usual weekly hours and by 52.
- Add your current super balance from your fund statement or app.
- Enter your age and the age you plan to retire at.
- Set a return after fees. Use a long-run figure, not last year's result.
- Read your employer super per week, fortnight and year, and your projected balance in future and today's dollars.
What is the current superannuation rate?
The superannuation guarantee (SG) rate is 12% of ordinary time earnings for 2026-27. It reached 12% on 1 July 2025 and is now at its legislated maximum, so there is no further scheduled rise.
| Item | 2026-27 figure |
|---|---|
| Super guarantee rate | 12% |
| Concessional (before-tax) contributions cap | $32,500 |
| Maximum super contribution base (annual) | $270,830 |
| Contributions tax inside the fund | 15% |
| Payday Super start date | 1 July 2026 |
Super is paid on top of your wages, not taken out of them, unless your contract says your pay is a total package that includes super. The calculator has no package option, so if your offer says "including super", divide the package by 1.12 first to get your wage before super.
How to calculate superannuation
The formula is simple: ordinary time earnings × 12%. Ordinary time earnings are what you earn for your ordinary hours of work, including casual loading, shift loadings, commissions and most allowances. Overtime hours are generally not included.
Once the money reaches your fund, 15% contributions tax comes out, so 12% of pay becomes about 10.2% of pay invested. The calculator shows both figures.
Worked example. You earn $65,000 a year before super, are 30 years old with $25,000 in super, and plan to retire at 67 with a 6% return after fees.
Your employer pays $7,800 a year in super: $150 a week or $300 a fortnight. After 15% contributions tax, $6,630 a year is invested.
If your pay stayed the same, your balance at 67 would be about $1,059,690 in future dollars, or about $354,978 in today's dollars after allowing for 3% inflation.
Real balances will differ. Pay rises, career breaks, fees, insurance premiums and investment returns all change the result, which is why the projection is an estimate and not a forecast.
Is super paid on overtime, leave and bonuses?
- Overtime: generally no. Super is based on ordinary time earnings, and overtime hours are excluded. Some awards or agreements pay super on overtime anyway, so check yours.
- Annual leave and long service leave taken: yes, leave paid while you are on leave counts as ordinary time earnings.
- Unused annual leave paid out when you leave: generally no super is payable on it.
- Bonuses: yes if the bonus relates to ordinary hours or performance in your ordinary role. A bonus for overtime only is generally not included.
- Redundancy pay: genuine redundancy payments are not ordinary time earnings, so no super is payable on them.
When is super paid? Payday Super from 1 July 2026
From 1 July 2026 employers must pay super at the same time as wages, under the Payday Super rules. Before this change, employers could pay quarterly. Super is now calculated on qualifying earnings each pay run and must reach your fund within a short window after payday.
That makes it easier to check. Each payslip should show the super amount for that pay, and your fund's app or online account should show the same amount arriving within days. If amounts are missing or late, ask your employer first, then report unpaid super to the ATO.
Who gets super?
Almost every employee aged 18 and over is entitled to super guarantee, whether full-time, part-time or casual, and there is no minimum earnings threshold. Employees under 18 qualify if they work more than 30 hours in a week. Contractors paid mainly for their labour can also count as employees for super purposes, even if they have an ABN.
Casual and labour hire workers often have super paid by several employers into different funds. Keeping one fund and giving its details to each new employer stops fees and insurance premiums coming out of multiple accounts. TQN Personnel workers have super paid on every pay run. If you are looking for casual or permanent work, you can register with TQN Personnel.
Frequently asked questions
What is the superannuation rate in Australia for 2026?
The super guarantee rate is 12% of ordinary time earnings. It rose to 12% on 1 July 2025 and stays at 12% for 2026-27. Your employer pays it on top of your wages unless you are on a salary package that includes super.
How much is superannuation on $65,000?
At 12%, super on a $65,000 salary is $7,800 a year, or $150 a week and $300 a fortnight. After 15% contributions tax in the fund, about $6,630 a year is invested.
Is super paid on overtime?
Generally no. Super guarantee is calculated on ordinary time earnings, which exclude overtime hours. Some awards, enterprise agreements and contracts require super on overtime, so check the document that covers your job.
Is superannuation taxed?
Yes. Employer contributions and salary sacrifice are taxed at 15% when they enter the fund, and investment earnings are taxed at up to 15% while you are working. Withdrawals after age 60 from a taxed fund are generally tax-free.
When can I access my superannuation?
Usually once you reach preservation age, which is 60 for anyone born after 30 June 1964, and retire, or when you turn 65 even if you are still working. Early release is only allowed in limited cases such as severe financial hardship or certain medical conditions.
How do I find my superannuation?
Log in to myGov and open your linked ATO account. It lists your super accounts, including any lost or unclaimed super, and lets you combine accounts. Your fund's member number is on your statements and in its app.
Do casual workers get super?
Yes. Casual employees aged 18 and over get the same 12% super guarantee as permanent staff, with no minimum earnings threshold. Super is calculated on your ordinary pay including casual loading.
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Super guarantee guideSources and assumptions
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.