Using a Super Guarantee Calculator in Australia: A Step-by-Step Guide
Calculates the employer super guarantee on your ordinary time earnings. This guide walks through what each input means, the formula behind the answer and a worked example using typical Australian figures. You can follow along in the free Super Guarantee Calculator.
Why it matters
Superannuation is Australia’s compulsory retirement savings system. Employers pay the super guarantee into your fund, contributions are taxed concessionally, and the money is generally preserved until you reach preservation age and retire. Small changes to contributions, fees or investment returns compound over decades.
What you need to enter
The calculator asks for 2 inputs. The table shows each one with the example value used later in this guide.
| Input | Example value |
|---|---|
| Ordinary time earnings ($) | 90000 |
| Super guarantee rate (%) | 12 |
The formula
Super guarantee = ordinary time earnings × SG rate (12% from 1 July 2025).
Worked example
Entering the example values above gives these results:
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual super contribution | $10,800.00 |
| Quarterly | $2,700.00 |
| After 15% contributions tax | $9,180.00 |
The headline figure is $10,800.00 (annual super contribution). Change any input in the calculator and every result updates instantly, so you can test different scenarios side by side.
How the annual super contribution changes with ordinary time earnings
The table below keeps every other input at the example value and moves only “Ordinary time earnings ($)” up and down by 10% and 20%. It shows how sensitive the annual super contribution is to that one figure.
| Ordinary time earnings ($) | Annual super contribution |
|---|---|
| 72,000 | $8,640.00 |
| 81,000 | $9,720.00 |
| 90,000 | $10,800.00 |
| 99,000 | $11,880.00 |
| 108,000 | $12,960.00 |
At 72,000 the result is $8,640.00; at 108,000 it is $12,960.00. If a small change in this input moves the answer a lot, it is worth double-checking that figure before you rely on the result.
A practical tip
From 1 July 2026 employers must pay super at the same time as wages under Payday Super, so check your fund regularly.
Keep going
Before relying on the number, read Common Super Guarantee Mistakes (and a Better Way). You might also find these guides useful:
- Superannuation Balance Projection Explained for Australians
- How the Retirement Savings Goal Calculator Works (With a Worked Example)
- Super Contributions Tax Calculator: Formula, Example and What the Result Means
Frequently asked questions
- Are the projections guaranteed?
- No. Investment returns vary from year to year. Treat projections as a guide for planning, not a forecast.
- What is the super guarantee rate?
- It is 12% of ordinary time earnings from 1 July 2025.
- Should I get advice?
- For decisions like salary sacrifice, contribution strategies or retirement income, a licensed financial adviser can look at your full situation. This site provides general information only.
Run your own numbers in the Super Guarantee Calculator.
Open the calculatorGeneral information only. Rates and thresholds change, usually on 1 July. Confirm current figures with the ATO or the relevant authority, and get personal advice for decisions about your situation.