how much super should i have at my age
Determining the right superannuation (super) balance depends on your age, income, lifestyle goals, and retirement plans in Australia. Benchmarks from trusted sources like ASFA provide comfortable retirement targets, while averages show typical balances.
Target Balances by Age
These figures from Australian Retirement Trust (ART), based on ASFA's Super Balance Detective (May 2025), represent recommended super for a comfortable retirement.
| Age (years) | Super balance |
|---|---|
| 25 | $26,000 |
| 30 | $66,500 |
| 35 | $111,500 |
| 40 | $168,000 |
| 45 | $226,000 |
| 50 | $296,000 |
| 55 | $377,000 |
| 60 | $469,000 |
| 65 | $571,000 |
Average Balances by Age Group
Real-world data reveals gaps—averages often trail targets, especially for women due to career breaks or pay gaps. From ABS (2019–20 data, accessed May 2025) and APRA (June 2025).
Age Group| Avg Men| Avg Women| Combined Avg (APRA)
---|---|---|---
15-24| $6,500| $5,100| -
25-34| $42,100| $34,500| $50,400 (30-34)
35-44| $107,700| $76,900| $80,900-$112,500
45-54| $219,300| $136,000| $144,400-$181,400
55-64| $326,200| $246,300| $223,900-$252,700
65+| Varies| Varies| $381,700-$435,900
Retirement Needs
For a comfortable lifestyle at 67, aim for $595,000 (single) or $690,000 (couple), per ASFA/MoneySmart (Dec 2025). This assumes partial Age Pension and lump-sum drawdown.
Boosting Your Super
- Salary sacrifice or voluntary contributions : Add pre-tax dollars to grow faster via compound interest.
- Check fees and investments : Switch to low-fee, high-growth options if underperforming.
- Consolidate accounts : Avoid multiple fees eating into balances.
- Spouse contributions : Eligible for tax offsets if supporting a lower-earning partner.
Real Aussies on Reddit's r/AusHENRY share stories: a 30-year-old in finance hit $160k via extras, but many lag behind without them. Track yearly via your fund's app.
TL;DR Bottom : Compare your balance to age-based targets (e.g., $296k at 50) and averages; act early with contributions for comfort. Personal advice from a planner beats generics.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.