Super guarantee rate: what you need to know about employer super contributions

The super guarantee rate—sometimes called the superannuation rate or compulsory superannuation rate—is a key part of how Australians save for retirement.

If you’ve ever wondered how much your employer should contribute or what happens if they don’t, this guide has you covered.

The superannuation guarantee rate is the percentage of your earnings that your employer must contribute to your super fund. As of now, the rate is 11.5%, and it will increase to 12% on 1 July 2025, where it’s expected to stay for the foreseeable future.

Employers are currently required to make these contributions at least quarterly, but starting 1 July 2026, super payments will need to align with your payday.

Whether these contributions are paid in addition to your ordinary time earnings (OTE)—for example, added on top of your agreed wages or salary—or included as part of your total remuneration package—where your total pay (including super) is bundled into one figure—depends on your employment agreement.

Either way, the amount deposited into your super should equal 11.5% of your ordinary time earnings before tax.

Most employees in Australia are entitled to the super guarantee, although the details differ based on your age. You’re eligible if:

• You’re 18 or older, no matter how many hours you work per week.
• You’re under 18 and work more than 30 hours per week.

You can check the Australian Tax Office (ATO) website or speak with your employer to find out if you’re eligible.

Employers who fail to pay their compulsory contributions could face penalties known as the super guarantee charge. 

In addition to the unpaid super, they also have to fork out additional interest to the employee and admin fees to the ATO.

If you’re worried your employer isn’t paying the right superannuation rate—or worse, hasn’t paid at all—here’s what to do about it:

1. Check your super account. You can view a list of all contributions by logging into your super fund’s online account or through MyGov. Compare these with your payslips.
2. Talk to your employer. If something looks off, see if you can work it out with your employer first. It might be an innocent admin error that can be quickly fixed.
3. Contact the ATO. If that doesn’t work, you can easily report unpaid or incorrect super contributions on the Australian Tax Office (ATO) website.
4. Keep your records handy. Save your payslips and any communications about your super in case things need to be escalated.

The ATO doesn’t mess around when it comes to unpaid super. So, if something seems off, take action sooner rather than later—after all, it’s your money. 

If you’re self-employed as a sole trader or in a partnership, you’re not required to make super contributions to yourself - but you are welcome to make voluntary contributions that can enjoy the same tax advantages that employees get with their super.

Just make sure that your super fund has a tax file number (TFN) or you could lose out on those advantages.

For more information on super contributions, check out our handy guide on the subject.

Or head over to our superannuation guides hub to learn about a variety of other important topics related to superannuation.