If you’re a woman earning an income in Australia, then chances are you’re likely to retire with less super to enjoy than your male counterparts.

This inequality is not only unfair but can also diminish a woman’s financial independence in retirement. It is especially worrying, since women tend to live longer than men, and therefore actually need more money to finance their retirement years. 

The difference can be huge, see for yourself here.

Women vs Men

Super comparison...

Due to the gender pay gap and being more likely to have a career break to raise children, women contribute less to their super than men over their career. That means less money for retirement.

Compare for yourself

Your age Please add an age
between 20 and 64

Your State - Select - All States ACT NSW NT QLD SA TAS VIC WA Please select a state

Compare

Women vs Men

Average super balance
for a XX year old

Women

$XX,XXX

Men

$XXX,XXX^*

Don't worry, there are things you can do now to improve your balance at retirement.

The gender super gap may impact your super in your 30's. Here are some tips to get the most out of your super now.

Maximise my super

^*ATO 2% confidentialised sample tax file, 2020-21.

Check again

What is the gender superannuation gap in Australia?

There is a significant gap between women’s and men’s super balances, with women retiring with around 25% less super on average. This gender super gap translates to around $50,000 less in retirement savings for the average Australian woman, reflecting years of lower contributions and interrupted careers.​

What causes the gender super gap?

The gender super gap is caused by a combination of factors including:

• Lower average wages and lifetime earnings due to the gender pay gap.
• More time out of the workforce (career breaks) for unpaid family or caring duties.
• Higher rates of part-time and casual employment in feminised industries leading to reduced super contributions.
• Super system taxation settings that better benefit high-income earners.

These factors all contribute to a superannuation system where women’s superannuation outcomes are consistently behind those of men.

What is the current gender pay gap in Australia?

According to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the national gender pay gap is 11.5% as of August 2025. This means that, on average, women earn 11.5% less than men.

However, the Australian Government’s Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) looks at the pay gap a bit differently. They include extra factors like overtime, bonuses, and payments for casual and part-time workers — things the ABS doesn’t always count. Because of this, WGEA says the gender pay gap is actually larger, with women earning about 18.3% less than men when these extra payments are included. Many believe this gives a more complete picture of the true differences in what men and women earn in Australia.

While this gap has closed a little in recent years due to some policy reform and increased workplace participation by women, much of that progress has been made in the public sector where the pay gap is 6.4%, while in the private sector the gap is 21.1%.

This persistent gap deeply impacts women’s financial security and has flow on effects in retirement.

Career breaks and your super

For women, career breaks tend to happen in their 20s and 30s, and therefore can have a major impact on superannuation. Not only can a break from the workplace see a woman’s male colleagues leap-frog her in career progression, but it also means a loss of income, and hence a loss of super.

There are ways to help counteract this. For instance, a partner who is working can make spouse contributions, or a woman can make voluntary contributions to her super from any casual or freelance income earned while on a career break.

Find out how to take a career break without losing out.

What is being done to improve outcomes for women’s super?

While the gender super gap remains persistent, there are things being done to help such as paying super on Commonwealth Paid Parental Leave (from July 2025), increasing support for low-income earners (who are mostly women), and implementing equal pay reforms in feminised industries.

These measures are designed to help address some underlying inequalities and reduce the super gap.​

Why is closing the women and super gap important for Australia?

Closing the gender pay and super gaps will:

• Help more women achieve financial security in retirement and therefore decrease reliance on social security, particularly the Age Pension.
• Reduce poverty and homelessness among older women
• Create a fairer, stronger Australian society
• Improved super outcomes for women will also have benefits for families and communities.​

References
WGEA gender pay gap data - WGEA
ASFA gender super gap data - ASFA