Superannuation · ATO 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Super balance by age: what's actually normal?
The median super balance is far lower than most 'how much should I have' guides assume: $27,231 for 25–34-year-olds, $74,110 at 35–44, $143,293 at 45–54 and $193,614 at 55–64 (ATO 2023–24). If your balance beats these, you're ahead of half your age group already.
Rank your super against your age group → — Real ATO distribution, by age and sex
Median and top-quartile super by age
Two patterns worth noticing: the top quartile roughly doubles the median in every band — a gap driven mostly by unbroken full-time careers and salary sacrifice — and balances keep growing after 65 for those who leave super untouched, since investment earnings outrun drawdowns for many retirees.
Men's balances run 6–13% above these blended medians and women's 7–14% below, with the widest gap at 45–54 — the accumulated effect of the earnings gaps visible in the income-by-age tables.
| Age band | Median | Top 25% starts at |
|---|---|---|
| Under 25 | $14,370 | $21,600 |
| 25–34 | $27,231 | $54,800 |
| 35–44 | $74,110 | $149,200 |
| 45–54 | $143,293 | $308,600 |
| 55–64 | $193,614 | $442,100 |
| 65+ | $215,478 | $538,900 |
Median vs the 'comfortable retirement' track
Industry guides suggest around $310,000 by 50 on the way to a comfortable retirement — but the actual median 45–54 balance is $143,293. That gap doesn't mean half the country retires poor: the Age Pension, home ownership and a partner's super all carry weight the single-balance benchmark ignores. It does mean 'behind the guide' is the statistical norm, not a personal failure.
If you want to close a gap, the arithmetic favours acting early: at 7% returns, an extra $500/month of salary sacrifice from 35 adds roughly $600,000 by 67 — from 50, about $180,000. The superannuation calculator models exactly this, including the contribution caps.
Common questions
How much super should I have at 40?
The actual median for 35–44 is $74,110, and the top quartile starts around $149,000. Benchmark guides say ~$150,000–$165,000 at 40 for a comfortable retirement — achievable from the median with consistent contributions and time, but the median Australian is 'behind' those guides by design.
Why is the median so much lower than published averages?
Averages are inflated by very large balances (SMSFs above $1m are common at older ages). The median 55–64 balance is $193,614 while published averages for the same band exceed $400,000. Percentile against the real distribution — what this site computes — is the comparison that means something.
Is the employer contribution enough on its own?
The 12% Superannuation Guarantee on a median full-time wage, compounding for a 40-year career, lands near the comfortable-retirement range — for uninterrupted careers. Career breaks, part-time years and late starts are why actual medians sit below the theoretical track, and where voluntary contributions matter most.