Your super balance is one of the strongest signals of how your financial future is shaping up. It’s also one of the first things Australians compare. So it’s no surprise the big question keeps coming up: is my super on track for my age?
This guide answers that question with the figures that matter, combining average super balances by age and gender with the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) Retirement Standard targets for a modest and comfortable retirement. More importantly, what the numbers really mean and how the gender super gap shows up in real life are explained.
The average super balance rises steadily with age
Super doesn’t grow overnight, it grows over time. As your contributions add up and returns compound over your working life, balances typically start small in your 20s and early 30s, gather momentum through your 40s and 50s and peak in the years leading up to retirement.
The table below shows the average super balances for each age group, broken down by men and women, using ASFA statistics.
Average super balance by age and gender
| Age | Average account balance (male) | Average account balance (female) |
| Under 18 | 7,687 | 4,699 |
| 18-24 | 9,062 | 8,163 |
| 25-29 | 27,021 | 24,821 |
| 30-34 | 55,690 | 46,586 |
| 35-39 | 96,122 | 76,020 |
| 40-44 | 140,680 | 109,209 |
| 45-49 | 193,501 | 147,146 |
| 50-54 | 254,071 | 190,175 |
| 55-59 | 319,743 | 242,945 |
| 60-64 | 395,852 | 313,360 |
| 65-69 | 448,518 | 392,274 |
| 70-74 | 501,785 | 449,540 |
| 75+ | 525,627 | 454,333 |
Source: ASFA Superannuation balances by age and gender, June 2023
The gender super gap
Many women reach retirement with less super than men. This difference is known as the gender super gap. It’s a reality for millions of Australians today.
The data tells a clear story. At almost every age, women’s super balances fall behind men’s, with the gap often widest during key career and caregiving years.
How big the gap is at each life stage
The gap is driven by various factors, including:
- The gender pay gap: lower average earnings mean lower super contributions, because super is paid as a percentage of pay.
- Time out of the workforce: career breaks for caregiving mean periods with little or no super being contributed.
- Higher rates of part-time work: part-time and casual roles generate smaller contributions over a working life.
What can help close it
A range of measures can help women build super faster, including making personal or spouse contributions, the government co-contribution for eligible lower income earners, carry forward concessional contributions after time out of the workforce and consolidating multiple accounts to stop paying duplicate fees.
How much super should I have for my age?
There’s no single “magic number” when it comes to super. What you’ll need depends on your income, the lifestyle you want in retirement, whether you own your home and when you plan to stop working.
The benchmarks provided give you two helpful reference points. First, how your super compares with other Australians your age (in the table above). Second, an estimate of what a modest or comfortable retirement could cost, based on the ASFA Retirement Standard (in the table below).
There’s no single ‘right’ number
Two people of the same age can end up needing very different amounts in retirement. If you own your home and plan a simpler lifestyle, you may need far less than someone who’s renting or planning to travel more often. That’s why an “average balance” is just a reference point, not a target. What really matters is your individual situation.
The ASFA Retirement Standard, comfortable vs modest
The ASFA Retirement Standard is Australia’s most trusted guide to retirement spending. It provides a clear, practical benchmark for what life in retirement can look like. It estimates the annual budget retirees who own their home may need, based on two lifestyle benchmarks.
- Comfortable lifestyle – a good standard of living, including private health cover, a reliable car, regular leisure activities and the flexibility to enjoy domestic and occasional overseas travel.
- Modest lifestyle – a lifestyle that goes beyond relying on the Age Pension alone, covering everyday needs, with fewer discretionary extras.
According to AFSA, these are the annual income targets based on the kind of retirement you’re aiming for.
| Comfortable lifestyle | Modest lifestyle | Age pension | |
| Single | $54,840 a year | $35,503 a year | $30,646 including supplements |
| Couple | $77,375 a year | $51,299 a year | $46,202 including supplements |
Source: ASFA Budgets for various households and living standards for those aged 65-84 (September quarter 2025)
What to do if your balance is below the average
If your super balance is tracking below the average for your age, you’re not alone and there are practical ways to start closing the gap. The good news? Small steps today can make a meaningful difference over time.
Find and consolidate lost super
Many Australians have super spread across multiple accounts from different jobs, each charging its own fees. Bringing them together into one account can stop duplicate fees eroding your balance.
Check you’re getting the right contributions
Your employer is required to pay the Superannuation Guarantee on your behalf. It’s worth confirming the correct amount is landing in your account on time. You can see contributions in your member statements and through your fund’s online portal.
Consider salary sacrifice or personal contributions
Adding to your super beyond the compulsory employer contributions, for example through salary sacrifice into super or personal contributions, could accelerate growth. Whether it suits you depends on your factors such as your income, cash flow and goals.
Review how your super is invested
The choices you make today can shape how your money grows over time. Over the long term, higher growth options have typically delivered stronger returns than more conservative options. The trade off? They can be subject to more market fluctuations.
Source: Colonial First State
