Current superannuation rate (super guarantee)
The superannuation rate for 2026-27 is 12% of qualifying earnings, according to the ATO super guarantee page (opens in a new tab). It was also 12% in 2025-26, and the ATO lists 12% from 1 July 2027 onwards.
By Calculatax editorial team
The super guarantee (SG) is the minimum an employer must pay into superannuation for each eligible worker. It's a percentage of qualifying earnings, which replaced ordinary time earnings (OTE) as the base on 1 July 2026.
| Financial year | Super guarantee rate | Maximum super contribution base |
|---|---|---|
| 2027-28 onwards | 12% | Not published yet |
| 2026-27 | 12% | $270,830 a year |
| 2025-26 | 12% | $62,500 a quarter (maximum SG $7,500 a quarter) |
| 2024-25 | 11.5% | $65,070 a quarter (maximum SG $7,483.05 a quarter) |
| 2023-24 | 11% | $62,270 a quarter (maximum SG $6,849.70 a quarter) |
| 2022-23 | 10.5% | $60,220 a quarter (maximum SG $6,323.10 a quarter) |
| 2021-22 | 10% | $58,920 a quarter (maximum SG $5,892.00 a quarter) |
The 2027-28 maximum contribution base isn't out yet. The ATO's table stops at 2026-27, so we don't show a figure for later years. We'll add it once the ATO publishes it.
Figures checked 1 November 2026. Change log: the 2026-27 maximum contribution base changed from a quarterly to an annual figure ($270,830) with Payday Super.
12% from 1 July 2025: scheduled rises have finished
The rate reached 12% on 1 July 2025, and the ATO's table shows it staying there.
What did change on 1 July 2026 is the timing and the base. Under Payday Super (opens in a new tab), SG is paid for each payday and is due in your fund within 7 business days after payday, though longer can apply, such as for new employees.
| Step | Amount | Running total |
|---|---|---|
| Concessional contributions cap | $32,500 | $32,500 |
| Cap divided by 12% | $270,833.33 | |
| Rounded down to the nearest $10 | $270,830 | |
| Most SG required for the year (12% of the base) | $32,499.60 | |
What the base means for your employer
Once your qualifying earnings reach the base in a financial year, your employer can stop paying the minimum SG for the rest of that year. Before 1 July 2026, the base was a quarterly amount, so it was tested each quarter.
How the 12% rate applies to your pay
SG is 12% of qualifying earnings, which isn't always the same as 12% of everything you're paid. A worker on an $85,000 salary with no overtime receives $10,200 of SG a year. To check one pay, use the Payday Super checker.
One week: $1,800 for ordinary hours, $300 for overtime
Overtime left out
- Pay the 12% applies to
- $1,800
- SG for the week
- $216
If overtime counted
- Pay the 12% applies to
- $2,100
- SG for the week
- $252
If your offer is a "package including super", the 12% is built into the total. The super share then works out at 10.71% of the package, because 12 ÷ 112 = 10.71%. A package of $85,000 including super is a smaller salary than $85,000 plus super.
Where the rate does not tell the whole story
The 12% figure is a minimum. It doesn't show what your fund keeps or what you'll retire with.
- Your fund deducts 15% contributions tax, so 12% of pay becomes 10.20% of pay in your account.
- Above $250,000 of income plus concessional contributions, the Division 293 tax calculator shows the extra 15% that applies.
- Fees and insurance premiums reduce what stays invested.
- Your employer may pay more than the 12% minimum.
The super guarantee calculator applies the rate to any salary and pay cycle. The super calculator projects what those contributions could grow to.
Super rate questions: package changes, old contracts and Payday Super
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What is the current superannuation rate?
It's 12% of qualifying earnings for 2026-27, which runs from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027. The rate was also 12% in 2025-26, and the ATO lists 12% from 1 July 2027 onwards. On an $85,000 salary, that's $10,200 of employer super a year.
What is the current super guarantee?
It's 12% of qualifying earnings, up to a maximum super contribution base of $270,830 for 2026-27. Once your earnings reach that level, your employer can stop paying the minimum for the rest of the year. The most SG anyone must receive is therefore $32,499.60, just under the $32,500 concessional cap.
How do I calculate superannuation percentage?
Divide the super your employer pays by your qualifying earnings and multiply by 100. On $85,000 with $10,200 of super, that's 12%. If your pay is a package including super, the super share is 10.71% of the total package.
Does Payday Super change the super rate?
No. Payday Super changed when super is paid and what it's calculated on, and the rate stayed at 12%. From 1 July 2026 employers pay SG for each payday, generally due in your fund within 7 business days, and the maximum contribution base is an annual $270,830.
Does an old employment contract change the super I get?
The 12% of qualifying earnings is the minimum for 2026-27, however old your contract is. If your contract states a total package including super, the 12% may come out of that package, depending on its wording. Your salary is then lower than the headline figure.
Estimates only, based on published rates for 2026-27. General information, not tax or financial advice.
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