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Average Super Balance at 40 in Australia

27 years to 67 — prime decade for catch-up.

ATO average for the 40-44 age band: $134,318.00; the middle person aged 30-49 holds $50,000 to $99,999. Average projected to 67 at band-average salary: $920,850.00. ASFA single comfortable target: $630,000.00.

Between 18 and 80. ASFA Retirement Standard anchors on age 67.

Sum of all your super accounts. Check myGov for an up-to-date total.

Used for SG projection. Defaults to the ATO average salary or wages for your age band.

Retirement target

ASFA Retirement Standard Dec 2025 quarter. Assumes home-owner and partial Age Pension.

Projected at 67 (27 yrs to go)$920,850.00
Single comfortable target$630,000.00
Surplus above target$290,850.00
ATO average balance (40-44)$134,318.00
Vs ATO average$0.00 above
Middle balance, ages 30-49$50,000 to $99,999
Where you sit61%–75% of people aged 30-49 have less
Assumptions: figures are in today's dollars, like the ASFA targets. Growth 7% p.a. after fees, ≈4.4% real after 2.5% inflation; salary held at today's value; SG 12% from 1 Jul 2025, contributions through to age 67, less 15% contributions tax on SG and salary sacrifice. Does not model concessional cap ($32,500.00 in 2026-27). The low income super tax offset is netted off the contributions tax when your salary does not exceed $37,000.
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Where 40 sits in the life-stage map

At 40, peak earning years have usually arrived; HECS is often paid off freeing up cashflow; kids are in school with childcare winding down. This is when the 'I wish I'd started earlier' realization lands — and the good news is you still have 27 years of compounding ahead.

Why the balance at 40 matters: In the 40s the average balance runs well ahead of what the middle person holds, so the average alone overstates where a typical 40-year-old is. Closing a gap from 40 is realistic; from 55 it's much harder.

Biggest lever at 40

Concessional contribution cap ($32,500 in 2026-27) is rarely fully used by median-salary workers — SG alone at 12% of $90k is $10,800, leaving $21,700 of cap untapped. A $500/month salary sacrifice uses only ~$6k of that, saves tax at your marginal rate (likely 30% or 37%), and compounds for 27 years.

Common traps at 40

  • Assuming you'll 'catch up later' when the mortgage is paid off — the 40s are when compounding compounds the hardest; you can't buy time back.
  • Over-contributing beyond concessional cap without tracking — excess concessional contributions get taxed at marginal rate + excess tax on top.
  • Not running an ATO 'lost super' search — the ATO holds billions in unclaimed accounts. Takes 3 minutes via myGov.

The numbers at 40 — how the projection works

Your current age 40
Years to age 67 (ASFA anchor) 27
ATO average balance (40-44) $134,318.00
Band-average salary or wages (ATO, 2023-24) $96,756.00
SG at 12%, after 15% contributions tax (annual) $9,869.00
Projected at 67 (average + SG only, today's dollars) $920,850.00
ASFA single comfortable target at 67 $630,000.00
Surplus $290,850.00

Compare adjacent ages

← Super balance at 35 All ages + hub Super balance at 45 →

Related tools

Useful next steps for your super position at age 40.

Retirement (FIRE) Planner

When can you retire — super + non-super modelled together.

Carry-forward cap

5-year unused concessional — catch up in a high-income year.

Contribution optimizer

Salary sacrifice vs non-concessional vs co-contribution.

FHSS — First Home Super Saver

Use super to save a deposit, taxed at 15% not marginal rate.

How long will my super last

Drawdown runway from a given balance at 67.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average super balance at 40 in Australia?
For the 40-44 age band, the average balance in ATO Taxation Statistics 2023-24 is $134,318.00. A minority of very large balances pulls the average up. The ATO publishes no median by age, but its counts by balance range show the middle person aged 30-49 holds $50,000 to $99,999.
How much super should I have at 40?
No single answer — it depends on your target retirement lifestyle. To hit the ASFA single comfortable target of $630,000.00 at 67 on SG alone, someone at 40 on the band-average salary ($96,756.00) would need about $43,148.00 now. A lower salary, career breaks or lower returns raise that figure; try your own numbers above.
Is $134,318.00 enough at 40?
$134,318.00 is the ATO average for the 40-44 band. Projected forward to 67 at the band-average salary of $96,756.00, SG alone at 12% grows it to approximately $920,850.00. That's above the ASFA single comfortable target of $630,000.00 by $290,850.00. An average balance is tracking above target on these assumptions.
How do I catch up super at 40?
Concessional contribution cap ($32,500 in 2026-27) is rarely fully used by median-salary workers — SG alone at 12% of $90k is $10,800, leaving $21,700 of cap untapped. A $500/month salary sacrifice uses only ~$6k of that, saves tax at your marginal rate (likely 30% or 37%), and compounds for 27 years.
Should I salary sacrifice at 40?
Generally yes if your marginal tax rate is above 15%. With 27 years of compounding at 4.4% real, every $100 per month salary-sacrificed at 40 becomes roughly $50,886.00 at 67 in today's dollars, after contributions tax. Against a 15% contributions tax vs your likely 30% or 37% marginal rate, the pre-tax math alone saves $15-22 per $100 contributed, before compounding.
Is the calculator projection realistic?
It assumes 7% p.a. after fees and 2.5% inflation, so balances grow at about 4.4% real, and your salary stays at today's value. Every figure is in today's dollars, the same basis as the ASFA targets. The projection does not model market volatility, salary growth, career breaks or the concessional cap, so treat it as a planning anchor and try a lower balance or salary to stress-test it.

Sources: ATO Taxation Statistics 2023-24 Individuals Table 24, Table 22 and Table 3A (salary or wages), ASFA Retirement Standard June 2026 quarter.

Tax Accuracy & Sources

Reviewed: 30 October 2026 · Tax year: 2026-27

This calculator is an estimate tool and may not cover all personal circumstances. For state-based taxes, confirm details with your state or territory revenue office.

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