Am I Behind on Super? You’re Probably Comparing Yourself to the Wrong Number

Most people don’t really know if they’re on track with their super.

They do what most people do, they compare.

A headline. A conversation. A quick search for “average super by age.”

And within seconds, they decide whether they’re doing okay.

That’s where it goes wrong.

If you search today, you’ll likely find APRA-based averages published by Moneysmart, around $50,400 for ages 30–34, $112,500 for 40–44, $181,400 for 50–54, and $252,700 for 60–64.

They’re current. They’re widely referenced.

And they’re easy to misread.

These are account-based averages, influenced by multiple accounts and large balances.

They were never designed to tell you whether you’re personally on track.

The issue isn’t the data.

It’s what you assume the average represents.

Because in super, the average and the median tell completely different stories.

According to ASFA’s latest research (based on ATO data), across 17.9 million Australians with super balances:

• Average balance: $172,834

• Median balance: $60,037

That gap isn’t a technical detail.

It’s the point.

A relatively small number of high balances pull the average up, while most people sit much closer to the median.

Which means the number people compare themselves to is often the least representative number available.

There’s another layer to it.

Different “average super” figures are measuring different things:

• APRA data reflects member accounts (23.6 million accounts, average balance $131,980)

• ASFA/ATO data reflects individual balances (17.9 million people, excluding nil balances)

Both are valid.

But they are not interchangeable.

And the longer you stay in the system, the less useful the comparison becomes.

At 30–34, the average balance is $51,190, compared to a median of $38,525.

By 45–49, it’s $170,774 versus a median of $121,924.

At 60–64, the average reaches $355,451, while the median is $189,618.

By 65–69, the average rises to $420,934, but the median is just $208,143.

The gap doesn’t narrow.

It widens.

So the number most people use to judge their progress becomes less representative over time, not more.

That matters, because comparison doesn’t just inform, it shapes decisions.

• Above average - false confidence 

• Below average - unnecessary stress 

Neither improves outcomes.

Two people can have the same balance and be in completely different positions. One may be actively catching up. Another may look fine on paper but have no clear plan.

A single number feels precise.

It isn’t.

And that’s the core issue.

You’re not comparing like-for-like.

You’re comparing:

• Different careers

• Different incomes

• Different contribution histories

• Different investment decisions

• Different retirement goals

Then compressing all of it into one number and expecting it to mean something.

A better question isn’t:

“Am I above average?”

It’s:

“Am I on track for the retirement I actually want?”

That’s harder to answer.

But it’s the only question that actually leads anywhere useful.

Super isn’t a scoreboard.

It’s a funding strategy for your future lifestyle.

And averages can feel informative while quietly pointing you in the wrong direction.

Because at retirement, there’s no benchmark.

No average.

Only whether it worked.

Reference Table: Average and Median Super Balances by Age

Based on ASFA (October 2025) using ATO June 2023 data. Figures represent individuals with super balances (excluding nil balances).

Age group	Average balance	Median balance
18–24	$8,614	$5,170
25–29	$25,943	$19,187
30–34	$51,190	$38,525
35–39	$86,223	$65,491
40–44	$125,332	$93,351
45–49	$170,774	$121,924
50–54	$222,491	$147,857
55–59	$281,921	$169,146
60–64	$355,451	$189,618
65–69	$420,934	$208,143
70–74	$476,268	$215,009
75+	$492,198	$182,484

Notes on the Data

• Average (mean): total balances divided by number of observations

• Median: midpoint where 50% are above and 50% below

• Source: ASFA (Oct 2025) using ATO June 2023 data 

• Reflects individual balances, excludes nil accounts

• APRA/Moneysmart figures are account-based (June 2025) and not directly comparable

• SMSFs excluded for consistency