Your Employer Super Contributions
| Period | Super Contribution (12%) |
|---|---|
| Annual | $4,800 |
| Quarterly | $1,200 |
| Monthly | $400 |
| Per pay (fortnightly) | $185 |
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 $4,800 of your $30,000 concessional cap. That leaves $25,200 available for salary sacrifice or personal deductible contributions.
Projected Super at Retirement
If you stay on a $40,000 salary with 12% super guarantee for 30 years (assuming 7% average annual return, no salary sacrifice), your projected super balance would be approximately $485,000.
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 $40,000 Plus Super or Including Super?
This matters. "$40,000 plus super" means you get $40,000 in salary AND $4,800 in super — total package $44,800. "$40,000 including super" means the super comes out of the total, so your actual salary is $35,200 and super is $4,800. Always clarify this with your employer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much super do I get on $40,000?
Your employer pays $4,800 per year (12% of $40,000) into your super fund. This is paid on top of your salary.
How much cap space do I have for salary sacrifice?
On $40,000, your employer uses $4,800 of the $30,000 concessional cap. You have $25,200 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 $40,000, that means roughly $80,000 by 40 and $280,000 by 60. But everyone's situation is different.