Superannuation Rate: The Current Figure, and Why It’s Not Rising Again

August 21, 2026 3 Min Read

The superannuation rate reached its final legislated step on 1 July 2025. Some guides still quote an older figure. Here’s the current rate, what it means in dollars, and why the years of scheduled rises have now stopped.

Quick Answer: Superannuation Rate

The superannuation guarantee rate in Australia is 12% of your ordinary time earnings. It reached this level on 1 July 2025, the final step in the legislated plan, and no further increase is due right now. Some pages still show 11.5% as the current rate. That figure no longer applies. Your employer must pay 12% on top of your wage, not out of it, unless your contract says otherwise.

Is the Superannuation Rate Still Increasing?

No further rate increase is currently scheduled. The rate rose in small steps from 9.5% in 2021 to 12% by 1 July 2025. That staged plan has now finished.
The government calls 12% the final legislated rate. Years of yearly bumps trained people to expect another rise. There isn’t one scheduled right now.
Some sites still quote 11.5%. That was the rate for 2024-25, one step before the current one. Treat any page still using that figure as outdated.
A future government could legislate a further change. Nothing stops that happening down the track. But as things stand today, 12% is the rate.

What 12% Actually Means in Dollars

The rate applies to your ordinary time earnings, not your total pay. OTE generally means your normal hours of work, not overtime. OTE also counts most bonuses and some allowances.
A worked example makes it concrete. On a $75,000 salary, 12% super works out to $9,000 a year, paid into your fund on top of your wage.
Your payslip should show it separately. Check that the super amount lines up with 12% of your OTE, not your full package figure if you’re on a total remuneration package.
There’s a cap on how much OTE this applies to. Above a set quarterly income level, employers don’t have to pay super guarantee on the excess. That cap only affects very high earners.

Payday Super Doesn’t Change the Rate

Payday Super started on 1 July 2026. This changes when your employer must pay your super, not how much.
Employers must now pay super closer to each payday. Before this, some employers paid quarterly, which meant your money sat out of your fund for longer.
This change doesn’t touch the 12% figure. Don’t confuse “when it lands in your account” with “how much gets paid.” They’re two separate rules.
This mainly matters if you’re chasing missing payments. If your super looks late, Payday Super’s new timing rules are the reason to check, not the rate itself.

Contribution Caps You Should Also Know

The concessional contributions cap sits above the guaranteed 12%. This cap covers your employer’s 12% plus any salary sacrifice or personal deductible contributions you make.
There’s a maximum income level for compulsory super. Above a set quarterly earnings threshold, your employer doesn’t have to pay guarantee contributions on the amount over that limit.
These caps are separate from the 12% rate itself. The rate tells you the percentage. The caps tell you the dollar ceiling on total concessional contributions in a year.
Exceeding a cap can trigger extra tax. If you’re salary sacrificing on top of your employer’s 12%, it’s worth checking you’re not pushing over the concessional cap.

FAQ: Superannuation Rate

What is the current superannuation rate in Australia?
12% of your ordinary time earnings, effective from 1 July 2025.

Is the super rate going to increase again?
Not on any currently scheduled timeline. 12% is the final legislated step of the staged increases that ran from 2021 to 2025.

Does Payday Super change how much super I get?
No. It changes when your employer must pay it, from 1 July 2026, not the 12% rate itself.

Is superannuation calculated on my total pay or just base hours?
On ordinary time earnings, which generally means your normal working hours, not overtime. Most bonuses and some allowances are included.

Why do some websites still say 11.5%?
That was the rate for the 2024-25 financial year, one step before the current 12%. Pages showing it haven’t been updated since the last increase.