Average Super Balance at 45 in Australia
Half the career done — 22 years of compounding left.
ATO median for the 45-49 age band is $92,000.00. Projected to 67 at band-average salary: $978,024.00. ASFA single comfortable target: $595,000.00.
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 ABS average for your age band.
ASFA Retirement Standard Dec 2025 quarter. Assumes home-owner and partial Age Pension.
Where 45 sits in the life-stage map
At 45, you're roughly halfway between your first job and retirement. Mortgage is likely in middle-years territory; teenagers are expensive but childcare is gone; peak salary period often lands in the next 5-10 years. Carry-forward unused concessional cap becomes a strategic tool.
Why the balance at 45 matters: The 45-49 median ($92,000) is right at the point where catch-up requires structural change — either bigger extra contributions (~$800-1,000/mo from here hits comfortable) or working past 67, or lowering the lifestyle target.
Biggest lever at 45
Carry-forward unused concessional cap — if your total super balance is under $500,000 at the prior 30 June, you can use unused cap from the prior 5 years. A 45-year-old with 3 years of unused cap can make a $90,000+ concessional contribution in one year, typically tied to a bonus or capital gains event.
Common traps at 45
- Not using carry-forward in a bonus year — the cap rolls off after 5 years; unused cap from 2020-21 expires 30 June 2026.
- Buying insurance through super that duplicates cover held personally — by 45 many people have both and pay twice.
- Forgetting Div 293 tax — if combined income + concessional contributions exceed $250,000, an extra 15% contributions tax applies (total 30%). Still advantageous vs marginal, but the math changes.
The numbers at 45 — how the projection works
| Your current age | 45 |
| Years to age 67 (ASFA anchor) | 22 |
| Peer median (45-49) | $92,000.00 |
| Band-average salary (ABS) | $97,000.00 |
| SG contribution at 12% (annual) | $11,640.00 |
| Projected at 67 (median + SG only, 7% p.a.) | $978,024.00 |
| ASFA single comfortable target at 67 | $595,000.00 |
| Surplus | $383,024.00 |
Compare adjacent ages
Next tools for 45
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.
How long will my super last
Drawdown runway from a given balance at 67.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average super balance at 45 in Australia?
How much super should I have at 45?
Is 92,000.00 enough at 45?
How do I catch up super at 45?
Should I salary sacrifice at 45?
Is the calculator projection realistic?
Sources: ATO Taxation Statistics 2021-22, ASFA Retirement Standard Dec-2025 quarter, ABS Average Weekly Earnings 6302.0.