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Average Super Balance at 65 in Australia

2 years to Age Pension — final-year decisions.

ATO average for the 65-69 age band: $442,634.00; the middle person aged 65-69 holds $200,000 to $249,999. Average projected to 67 at band-average salary: $495,516.00. 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 (2 yrs to go)$495,516.00
Single comfortable target$630,000.00
Gap (shortfall)$134,484.00
Extra monthly salary sacrifice to close the gap$6,451.00/mo
ATO average balance (65-69)$442,634.00
Vs ATO average$0.00 above
Middle balance, ages 65-69$200,000 to $249,999
Where you sit53%–73% of people aged 65-69 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 65 sits in the life-stage map

At 65, you can access super unconditionally (no work test required from 1 July 2022). Age Pension eligibility starts at 67. This is when the retirement income structure — account-based pension, transition from accumulation, Age Pension interaction — gets locked in. Final-year contribution decisions still matter for the years ahead of drawdown.

Why the balance at 65 matters: Balances in the late 60s mix people still contributing with retirees already drawing down. The remaining years of compounding have less leverage, but tax structure decisions made at 65 affect every year of drawdown that follows.

Biggest lever at 65

Account-based pension setup — converting accumulation to pension phase means earnings tax drops from 15% to 0% on amounts up to the transfer balance cap ($2.1M in 2026-27). Over a 25-year retirement, this can add hundreds of thousands to your total income.

Common traps at 65

  • Starting the Age Pension application late — you can apply 13 weeks before age 67; waiting loses backdated entitlement.
  • Not running an Age Pension asset-test sensitivity check — keeping $50k less in super (e.g. by paying off remaining mortgage) can unlock meaningfully more Age Pension depending on your asset position.
  • Taking a cash lump sum and parking it in a term deposit — interest is taxable, but pension phase earnings are not. Keep it inside super as pension if the structure allows.

The numbers at 65 — how the projection works

Your current age 65
Years to age 67 (ASFA anchor) 2
ATO average balance (65-69) $442,634.00
Band-average salary or wages (ATO, 2023-24) $63,139.00
SG at 12%, after 15% contributions tax (annual) $6,440.00
Projected at 67 (average + SG only, today's dollars) $495,516.00
ASFA single comfortable target at 67 $630,000.00
Shortfall $134,484.00
Extra monthly salary sacrifice to close the gap $6,451.00/mo

Compare adjacent ages

← Super balance at 60 All ages + hub

Related tools

Useful next steps for your super position at age 65.

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.

Downsizer contribution

$300k per person from home sale, outside contribution caps.

How long will my super last

Drawdown runway from a given balance at 67.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average super balance at 65 in Australia?
For the 65-69 age band, the average balance in ATO Taxation Statistics 2023-24 is $442,634.00. 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 65-69 holds $200,000 to $249,999.
How much super should I have at 65?
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 65 on the band-average salary ($63,139.00) would need about $566,045.00 now. A lower salary, career breaks or lower returns raise that figure; try your own numbers above.
Is $442,634.00 enough at 65?
$442,634.00 is the ATO average for the 65-69 band. Projected forward to 67 at the band-average salary of $63,139.00, SG alone at 12% grows it to approximately $495,516.00. That's below the ASFA single comfortable target of $630,000.00 by $134,484.00. Closing the gap needs about $6,451.00 per month of extra contributions.
How do I catch up super at 65?
Account-based pension setup — converting accumulation to pension phase means earnings tax drops from 15% to 0% on amounts up to the transfer balance cap ($2.1M in 2026-27). Over a 25-year retirement, this can add hundreds of thousands to your total income.
Should I salary sacrifice at 65?
Generally yes if your marginal tax rate is above 15%. With 2 years of compounding at 4.4% real, every $100 per month salary-sacrificed at 65 becomes roughly $2,085.00 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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