Super balance calculator
See roughly what your super could be worth when you retire, and how much a small extra contribution adds.
Balance by age
How it works
Each year: the balance grows by your return, then the year's contributions go in after 15% contributions tax. Contributions are 12% of your salary plus any extra, and salary rises 3% a year.
balancenext = balance × (1 + return) + (12% × salary + extra) × 0.85Worked example
A 30-year-old on $85,000 with $40,000 in super, retiring at 67 with a 6.5% return, could have about $2.22 million at retirement. That sounds like a lot, but it's about $889,000 in today's dollars.
Rates checked 4 Nov 2026: the 12% super guarantee and $32,500 concessional cap come from the ATO's key super rates. Salary growth (3%) and inflation (2.5%) are our assumptions. The estimate ignores insurance premiums and the Division 293 tax for high earners.
Common questions
What super guarantee rate is used?
12% of ordinary earnings, the rate from 1 July 2025 onwards. Employers pay it on top of your salary.
Why is 15% taken off contributions?
Super funds pay 15% tax on concessional (before-tax) contributions, which include the super guarantee and salary sacrifice. The calculator takes that off before adding them to your balance.
What return should I assume?
Long-run balanced and growth options have historically returned about 6–8% a year after fees, but it varies a lot from year to year. We default to 6.5% after fees and tax on earnings, and you can change it.
What does 'in today's dollars' mean?
Prices rise over time, so $1 million in 30 years won't buy what $1 million buys now. We divide by 2.5% inflation each year so you can compare it to today's money.
Is there a limit on extra contributions?
Yes. The concessional cap is $32,500 a year for 2026-27, and that includes your employer's contributions.