How much super should you have at 45?
From the mid-40s the median falls further behind the average, so the headline number flatters more people than it describes. On ATO figures for June 2022, the average super balance for the 45 to 49 age band is about $159,270. That average is worth reading with care: it is pulled up by a minority of large balances, so the median (the middle balance, where half of people have more and half have less) is lower, at roughly $93,471 to $133,616. If your balance sits between those two, you are in good company. The number that matters is not the average at all, but whether your own path lands you at the retirement income you want, which is what the calculator above projects.
Average super balance at 45, and why the median is lower
The average across men and women in the 45 to 49 band is $159,270, while the typical (median) balance is closer to $93,471 to $133,616. The gap exists because a small number of high balances drag the average upwards, so most people your age hold less than the headline average. There is also a persistent gap between men and women, widest through the prime working and caregiving years, driven by the gender pay gap and time out of the workforce. Treat the average as a rough marker, not a target.
Super balance by age in Australia
The table below shows the average super balance for each age we cover, so you can see where 45 sits and how balances build over a working life. All figures are ATO Individuals statistics for June 2022, combined across men and women, and exclude accounts with a nil balance.
| Age | ATO age band | Average balance | Typical (median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age 25 | 25 to 29 | $24,370 | $17,545–$17,840 |
| Age 30 | 30 to 34 | $48,660 | $34,327–$39,796 |
| Age 35 | 35 to 39 | $81,450 | $54,391–$70,181 |
| Age 40 | 40 to 44 | $117,430 | $74,066–$101,231 |
| Age 45 (this page) | 45 to 49 | $159,270 | $93,471–$133,616 |
| Age 50 | 50 to 54 | $207,370 | $111,063–$162,146 |
| Age 55 | 55 to 59 | $265,740 | $128,675–$186,255 |
| Age 60 | 60 to 64 | $341,590 | $153,685–$205,385 |
| Age 65 | 65 to 69 | $404,560 | $191,475–$206,091 |
These are national figures, not a rule for your situation. Someone who started work late, took time out, or earns above average will sit well off the average, and that is normal. Use the superannuation calculator to project your own balance forward on your salary and contributions.
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Simon is the founder of Orbit Money, a tool that helps people track subscriptions and recurring spend. He builds Orbit's free money calculators and writes about personal finance for Australian and UK readers.
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