Not sure if your super is on track? This page provides Australian super benchmarks by age, sourced from APRA and ASFA data, alongside a calculator to compare your balance against the targets for your age.
Super by Age Checker
Super Balance Benchmarks by Age — Reference Table
The table below shows approximate benchmark super balances by age group, based on APRA data (average balances) and ASFA modelling (targets for a comfortable retirement at 67, single person).
| Age Group | APRA Average Balance | On-Track Target (Comfortable Retirement) |
|---|---|---|
| 20–24 | ~$9,000 | ~$15,000 |
| 25–29 | ~$32,000 | ~$50,000 |
| 30–34 | ~$68,000 | ~$95,000 |
| 35–39 | ~$110,000 | ~$145,000 |
| 40–44 | ~$152,000 | ~$200,000 |
| 45–49 | ~$198,000 | ~$270,000 |
| 50–54 | ~$248,000 | ~$350,000 |
| 55–59 | ~$296,000 | ~$450,000 |
| 60–64 | ~$357,000 | ~$540,000 |
| 65–69 | ~$385,000 | ~$595,000 |
APRA averages are rounded approximations from APRA Annual Fund-level Superannuation Statistics. On-track targets are illustrative for a single person targeting a comfortable retirement at 67 with partial Age Pension support. Couple targets are higher — see How Much Super to Retire.
Why Average Balances Are Lower Than Targets
You’ll notice that APRA average balances are consistently below the “on-track” targets for a comfortable retirement. This reflects several realities:
- Many Australians did not have super for their entire working life (the SG was introduced in 1992, starting at 3%)
- Career breaks, low-income periods, and under-contribution are common
- The SG rate was below 10% until FY2021–22 and only reached 12% from July 2025
- Many retirees today rely substantially on the Age Pension — and a significant proportion of the population retires with modest super balances
If your balance is near or above the APRA average but below the “on-track” target, you are not unusual — but it does suggest considering strategies to boost your super in the years remaining before retirement.
I’m Behind — What Can I Do?
If your balance is below the on-track target for your age, the most effective levers are:
1. Increase contributions now
- Salary sacrifice into super (reduces taxable income and boosts super simultaneously)
- Use carry-forward concessional cap space if your TSB is under $500,000 (you can contribute unused cap amounts from the past 5 years)
- See Boosting Your Super Before Retirement
2. Reduce fees
- Moving to a low-fee fund can add significantly to your balance over time
- See Cheapest Super Funds Australia
3. Check your investment option
- If you are in a conservative option and still have 10–20 years to retirement, a growth or balanced option may generate higher long-term returns
- See Super Fund Investment Options Explained
4. Don’t panic
- The Age Pension supplements super for most Australians — you don’t need the full target to retire
- The full Age Pension for a single person (~$29,000/year) is a meaningful income floor
- See How Much Super Do You Need to Retire?
Source: APRA Annual Fund-level Superannuation Statistics; ASFA Retirement Standard. For advice tailored to your super position, speak with a licensed financial adviser through MoneySmart.
See also: Super Calculators.