Superannuation Balance Projector 2026

How the Superannuation Balance Projector Works

This free superannuation balance projector calculates your estimated super balance at retirement by compounding your current super balance and annual employer contributions at your chosen investment return rate. Each year, it adds your employer Superannuation Guarantee (SG) contributions — calculated as a percentage of your salary — plus any voluntary or salary sacrifice contributions you enter. From 1 July 2026, the SG rate increases to 12% permanently under current legislation.

The calculator uses compound growth, not simple averaging. Your existing balance grows at the selected fund return each year, and each new annual contribution is also compounded from the point it enters the fund. Salary increases are not modelled (projections assume a fixed salary for simplicity). Investment returns used are: Conservative 4% (mostly bonds and cash), Balanced 7% (diversified), and High Growth 9% (predominantly shares). These represent long-run after-fee averages based on industry benchmarks. Last updated: March 2026.

Understanding Your Retirement Income Projection

Once your projected balance at retirement is calculated, the tool applies a 4% annual drawdown rate — a widely used rule of thumb based on the "4% rule" from financial planning research. At a 4% drawdown on a $500,000 balance, you would receive $20,000 per year, or approximately $1,667 per month from super alone. This is in addition to any Age Pension you may receive.

The Age Pension for a single person in 2025-26 is approximately $29,755 per year ($1,144.40 per fortnight). This means even if your super income falls short of the ASFA Comfortable Standard, the Age Pension can bridge a significant portion of the gap. The ASFA Comfortable Retirement Standard requires $51,630 per year for singles and $72,663 per year for couples. To fund this entirely from super at a 4% drawdown rate, you need approximately $1.29 million (single) or $1.82 million (couple).

Superannuation Guarantee Rate Changes: 2025 to 2026 and Beyond

The SG rate has been incrementally increasing since 2021. For the 2025-26 financial year (1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026), the rate is 11.5% of ordinary time earnings. From 1 July 2026, it increases to 12% and is legislated to remain at 12% permanently. If you are modelling contributions beyond July 2026, the calculator applies the 12% rate for years after the transition, increasing the accuracy of long-horizon projections for younger workers.

The concessional contributions cap for 2025-26 is $30,000 per year. This includes your employer's SG contributions, any salary sacrifice, and personal deductible contributions. Exceeding this cap results in excess contributions being taxed at your marginal rate. The non-concessional (after-tax) cap is $120,000 per year. The Low Income Super Tax Offset (LISTO) refunds up to $500 of the 15% super contributions tax for those earning under $37,000.

Tips to Boost Your Projected Super Balance

Starting early has the greatest impact due to compounding. An extra $5,000 per year in salary sacrifice contributions starting at age 30 versus age 45 can add over $200,000 to a retirement balance at 67 (balanced fund assumption). Choosing a higher-growth investment option also materially improves long-run outcomes: a 35-year-old with $80,000 in super accumulates approximately $450,000 more by age 67 in a high growth option compared to conservative, assuming a $90,000 salary and 11.5% SG. However, higher growth options carry more short-term volatility, which is less suitable close to retirement.

Consider switching to a high growth option in your 20s and 30s, transitioning to balanced in your 40s and early 50s, and moving toward conservative in the five to ten years before retirement. This lifecycle approach is used by most MySuper default products. Review your fund's fees — even a 0.5% fee difference can reduce a $500,000 balance by over $60,000 over 20 years. All projections are estimates only. Consult a licensed financial adviser for personalised superannuation advice.