Your Employer Super Contributions
| Period | Super Contribution (12%) |
|---|---|
| Annual | $14,400 |
| Quarterly | $3,600 |
| Monthly | $1,200 |
| Per pay (fortnightly) | $554 |
This is paid by your employer on top of your salary. It doesn't come out of your take-home pay (unless your contract says "salary inclusive of super").
Concessional Cap Space
Your employer's super guarantee uses $14,400 of your $30,000 concessional cap. That leaves $15,600 available for salary sacrifice or personal deductible contributions.
Salary Sacrifice Scenarios
Using your remaining cap space to salary sacrifice saves tax — contributions are taxed at 15% inside super instead of your marginal rate.
| Sacrifice Amount | Tax Saved (approx) | Costs in Super Tax (15%) | Net Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| $5,000 | $1,600 | $750 | $850 |
| $10,000 | $3,200 | $1,500 | $1,700 |
| $15,600 | $4,992 | $2,340 | $2,652 |
Projected Super at Retirement
If you stay on a $120,000 salary with 12% super guarantee for 30 years (assuming 7% average annual return, no salary sacrifice), your projected super balance would be approximately $1,455,000.
This is a simplified projection. Actual returns vary, fees reduce the balance, and your salary will change over time. Use a detailed calculator for personalised projections.
Is $120,000 Plus Super or Including Super?
This matters. "$120,000 plus super" means you get $120,000 in salary AND $14,400 in super — total package $134,400. "$120,000 including super" means the super comes out of the total, so your actual salary is $105,600 and super is $14,400. Always clarify this with your employer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much super do I get on $120,000?
Your employer pays $14,400 per year (12% of $120,000) into your super fund. This is paid on top of your salary.
How much cap space do I have for salary sacrifice?
On $120,000, your employer uses $14,400 of the $30,000 concessional cap. You have $15,600 available for salary sacrifice.
How much super should I have at my age?
A common benchmark is 2x your salary by 40, 4x by 50, and 7x by 60. On $120,000, that means roughly $240,000 by 40 and $840,000 by 60. But everyone's situation is different.