Super Contributions Calculator
Estimate concessional and non-concessional contributions against the applicable annual caps.
Open calculator → Australian superannuation calculator
Superannuation Calculator Australia
Estimate employer Super Guarantee (SG) for your pay period and financial year, or split a salary package into pay and super. For retirement balance projections, use the separate calculator.
According to the Australian Taxation Office, Super guarantee (2026–27), the statutory SG rate is 12%.
Looking for your future retirement balance? Use the Super Projection Calculator.
Calculate your super
Enter eligible earnings for your selected pay period.
Your estimated employer contribution
A$9,600.00
Per year · 12% SG rate
- Base pay (selected period)
- A$80,000.00
- Total package (selected period)
- A$89,600.00
- Annualised super (estimate)
- A$9,600.00
- SG rate
- 12%
- Additional employer super (selected period)
- A$0.00
See how this was calculated
A$80,000 × 12% = A$9,600.
The maximum contribution base for the selected year and relevant earnings period is considered where an eligible pay-period calculation is possible.
This percentage estimate assumes all entered earnings qualify and are below any applicable statutory earnings limits. It does not assess employee eligibility, payment categories, cumulative annual earnings or higher contractual SG rates. The 2026–27 annual maximum contribution base is A$270,830. Earlier years have quarterly maximum contribution bases. The calculator applies the applicable base when the entered pay period and earlier earnings permit the calculation. Inclusive packages are modelled as base salary plus standard SG only.
Illustrative estimate per selected pay period, not a payroll compliance calculation. Applies the statutory SG earnings-base limit for supported periods, but not employee eligibility, earnings classification, contractual rates or detailed payroll reconciliation.
Explore more super calculators
Use a dedicated calculator to estimate contributions, contribution caps, salary sacrifice, investment growth or retirement income.
Super Projection Calculator
Estimate future super balances using contributions, returns, fees and inflation.
Open calculator →Super Growth Calculator
Estimate how investment returns and contributions could grow your super over time.
Open calculator →Salary Sacrifice Super Calculator
Compare take-home pay, income tax and additional pre-tax super contributions.
Open calculator →Super Retirement Income Calculator
Estimate retirement income and potential withdrawals from your super savings.
Open calculator →Super Contribution Cap Calculator
Check concessional and non-concessional contribution caps and available limits.
Open calculator →Understanding your result
What does calculating superannuation mean in Australia?
Calculating superannuation can mean estimating an employer’s Super Guarantee (SG) contribution, separating salary from an inclusive remuneration package, or projecting retirement savings. Each task uses different inputs and assumptions.
| Question | Calculation | Inputs needed |
|---|---|---|
| How much super applies to my payday? | Employer SG | Qualifying earnings, SG rate, annual earnings-base rules |
| Does my salary include super? | Package split | Total package, inclusions and SG rate |
| How much might I retire with? | Projection | Opening balance, age, contributions, returns and costs |
For payment deadlines and fund verification, read How super is paid in Australia.
Historical SG rates
How has Australia's Super Guarantee rate changed over time?
The general employer Super Guarantee rate was 9% between 2002–03 and 2012–13, increased to 9.25% in 2013–14 and reached 9.5% in 2014–15. It stayed at 9.5% through 2020–21, then rose by 0.5 percentage points each financial year until reaching 12% in 2025–26. The rate remains 12% in 2026–27.
Super Guarantee rate trend
General statutory SG percentage by Australian financial year, 2013–14 to 2026–27.
The line shows changes in the SG rate, not investment performance or actual super balances.
What would an A$80,000 salary receive?
Illustrative annual employer SG for A$80,000 of qualifying earnings, held constant across the selected rate periods.
Assumes all earnings qualify and no applicable earnings-base limit restricts the calculation. These are hypothetical examples, not historical wages or payments.
View historical SG rates as a table
| Financial year | General SG rate |
|---|---|
| 2002–03 to 2012–13 | 9% |
| 2013–14 | 9.25% |
| 2014–15 | 9.5% |
| 2015–16 | 9.5% |
| 2016–17 | 9.5% |
| 2017–18 | 9.5% |
| 2018–19 | 9.5% |
| 2019–20 | 9.5% |
| 2020–21 | 9.5% |
| 2021–22 | 10% |
| 2022–23 | 10.5% |
| 2023–24 | 11% |
| 2024–25 | 11.5% |
| 2025–26 | 12% |
| 2026–27 | 12% |
Source: Australian Taxation Office, Super guarantee rates and thresholds. General SG rates only; historical eligibility, maximum contribution bases and payment rules differed. The calculator above supports rates from 2022–23 to 2026–27, not the full chart history.
Employer contributions
How do you calculate employer super from wages?
Employer Super Guarantee (SG) contributions generally equal 12% of qualifying earnings for a payday in 2026–27, subject to employee eligibility and the annual maximum earnings base. Awards or employment agreements may require a higher contribution.
- Confirm the worker’s eligibility, including any applicable contractor rules.
- Identify qualifying earnings for the particular pay period, rather than treating all gross pay as qualifying.
- Apply the relevant SG rate and any applicable earnings-base limit.
- Compare the estimate with payroll records and the amount received by the super fund.
Example: A$2,000 in qualifying earnings × 12% = A$240 employer super for that payday.
How much super is calculated weekly, fortnightly or monthly?
Employer SG is calculated using qualifying earnings for each payday. The following amounts are separate examples, not equivalent annual salaries.
| Pay frequency | Qualifying earnings | SG at 12% |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly | A$1,000 | A$120 |
| Fortnightly | A$2,000 | A$240 |
| Monthly | A$4,000 | A$480 |
2026–27 rules
How did Payday Super change the calculation?
Payday Super began on 1 July 2026. Employers calculate SG on qualifying earnings (QE) and pay with each payday. The standard SG rate remains 12%. Super generally must reach the employee’s fund within seven business days of payday, subject to specified exceptions.
What are qualifying earnings?
Qualifying earnings under Payday Super include ordinary time earnings (OTE), commissions, amounts salary-sacrificed from otherwise qualifying earnings and other specified payments. Qualifying earnings may differ from gross pay. Payroll labels alone do not establish the legal classification.
| Payment type | How it should be considered |
|---|---|
| Ordinary wages | Generally counted when paid for ordinary hours. |
| Commissions | Included under the 2026 qualifying-earnings framework. |
| Bonuses | Review the underlying purpose and relevant QE provisions. |
| Overtime | Distinguish genuine overtime from ordinary-hours earnings and check specific rules. |
| Allowances and reimbursements | Classification depends on the payment’s purpose. |
| Salary sacrifice | Amounts sacrificed from otherwise qualifying earnings are included when calculating SG; salary sacrifice cannot replace compulsory SG. |
When does the annual maximum earnings base matter?
For 2026–27, the annual maximum contribution base is A$270,830 of qualifying earnings. Once this threshold is reached, minimum statutory SG is generally not required on further qualifying earnings for that financial year. Awards or employment agreements may still require additional contributions. The calculator applies the annual earnings base when the supplied pay-period and prior-earnings inputs allow it. It does not independently verify earlier earnings or reconstruct payroll history.
Sources: ATO, About Payday Super; What payments are qualifying earnings; Maximum contribution base (2026–27); Payment deadlines for Payday Super. Earlier years used different quarterly earnings-base rules. The calculator applies historical rates and supported quarterly limits when sufficient pay-period inputs are provided.
Salary packages
How do you calculate salary including or excluding super?
Salary packages can state pay plus super or include super within a total remuneration amount. A plus-super salary adds the contribution on top. An inclusive package divides the stated total between salary and super when no other benefits are included.
A$100,000 salary plus super
Assuming all earnings qualify at the 12% rate:
A$12,000
Employer super; total package A$112,000.
A$112,000 package including super
If the package contains only salary and 12% SG:
A$100,000
Base salary after dividing by 1.12; included super A$12,000.
For an inclusive package, dividing by 1.12 assumes it contains only salary and statutory SG, without other benefits or extra employer contributions. Check your employment agreement and applicable earnings limit.
Verification
How can you check if your super calculation is correct?
Employees and employers can check an SG calculation by comparing qualifying earnings and the calculated contribution with payroll records and fund receipts. A payslip entry alone does not prove the fund received payment.
- Find the pay date and itemised earnings.
- Identify qualifying earnings and apply the current SG rate.
- Check applicable limits and contractual requirements.
- Compare the calculation against fund receipts and dates.
- Ask payroll about discrepancies and consult current ATO guidance if needed.
Why do different super calculators give different results?
Super calculators may use different earnings classifications, time periods, rounding conventions, statutory earnings limits or salary-package assumptions. Retirement calculators also depend on contributions, fees, tax, investment returns and inflation.
Frequently asked questions
Is super calculated on gross salary?
NO, Super Guarantee applies to qualifying earnings rather than automatically to every item of gross pay. For example, if A$2,000 gross pay includes A$200 that is correctly excluded from qualifying earnings, A$1,800 × 12% gives an illustrative A$216 contribution.
Can self-employed people use this employer-super formula?
YES, self-employed people can use the formula as an illustration, but sole traders generally make personal super contributions rather than paying themselves employer SG on business profits. Employers with eligible staff, and some arrangements involving contractors, can have separate SG obligations.
Does this estimate include annual SG caps or retirement investment growth?
NO, the calculator does not forecast investment growth. It applies supported SG earnings-base limits where the pay-period and prior-earnings inputs permit, but it does not classify payments or reconstruct historical quarterly payroll. For investment projections, use the Super Projection Calculator.
Can I calculate super using weekly, fortnightly or monthly pay?
YES, select the pay frequency and enter qualifying earnings for that period. The calculator estimates employer super for the selected period and displays an illustrative annualised amount based on the frequency.
Can I calculate super for previous financial years?
YES, select financial years from 2022–23 to 2026–27. The calculator applies the SG rate listed for the chosen year, but it does not reproduce all historical payroll, eligibility or earnings-base rules.
Can an employer contribute more than the 12% Super Guarantee rate?
YES, an award, enterprise agreement or employment contract may require contributions above the statutory minimum. The calculator allows an additional employer contribution rate under Advanced SG options, but it cannot determine which award or contractual rate applies.
Does the super fund receive employer contributions on the same day as payday?
NO, employer contributions are not necessarily received on payday. Under Payday Super from 1 July 2026, contributions generally must reach the employee’s super fund within seven business days after payday, with exceptions in specified circumstances. The payment date and the fund’s receipt date can differ.
Can salary sacrifice replace an employer's compulsory super contributions?
NO, salary-sacrificed super contributions generally do not reduce an employer's minimum SG obligation. The calculator does not separately model salary sacrifice or personal voluntary contributions. For contribution planning, use the Super Contributions Calculator.