The average super balance for Australians aged 60 to 64 is $413,700 for men and $327,440 for women, based on the latest ATO data. A couple where both partners hold the average would have around $740,000 combined. But before anyone measures themselves against those numbers, here is the more honest pair: the medians are roughly $236,000 for men and $175,000 for women. Half of all Australians in this age bracket hold less than that.
Sixty is the age where these numbers stop being trivia and start being decisions, because it is also the age super becomes accessible. This guide covers the current averages and medians, why they differ so much, the gender gap that widens exactly when it hurts most, and what sitting above or below the line actually means for someone deciding what happens next.
The averages, and the medians that matter more
The most current figures, from ATO Taxation Statistics for 2023-24 (released June 2026) and ASFA’s 2026 analysis:
| Age group | Average (men) | Average (women) | Median (men) | Median (women) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 to 59 | ~$320,000 | ~$243,000 | ~$202,000 | ~$150,000 |
| 60 to 64 | $413,700 | $327,440 | ~$236,000 | ~$175,000 |
| 65 to 69 | ~$449,000 | ~$392,000 | ~$206,000 | ~$191,000 |
Sources: ATO Taxation Statistics 2023-24 (released June 2026); ASFA, An Update on Superannuation Account Balances, 2026 edition. Current as at September 2026. Across everyone aged 60 to 64 with super, ASFA puts the mean at $371,379 and the median at $203,326.
The reason the average and median sit so far apart is the same reason it does for house prices: a small number of very large balances drag the mean upward. One member with $4 million offsets a lot of members with $150,000. If the question is “what does a typical 60-year-old have”, the median is the answer. If your balance is above the median, you hold more super than most Australians your age, whatever the average says.
The gender gap peaks at the worst possible time
At 60 to 64, women hold roughly 21% less super than men on average, and about 26% less at the median. The causes are well documented: career breaks for caring, part-time years and the pay gap, all compounding over four decades of contributions.
What makes the gap sharper at this age is that it collides with two other facts. Scott and Phil covered both on the podcast episode about women and retirement: women retire nearly three years earlier than men on average (62.7 versus 64.9), and they live longer (life expectancy of 85 versus 81 for men). Less money, needed sooner, lasting longer. For couples, this is a planning input, not just a statistic, because super held in the lower-balance partner’s name can also carry structural advantages around contribution eligibility and the Age Pension assessment while one partner is under pension age.
How the average compares to what’s actually needed
ASFA’s benchmark for a comfortable retirement at 67 is $630,000 in super for a single homeowner and $730,000 for a couple, funding annual spending of $56,166 and $78,998 respectively (June quarter 2026 figures). Source: ASFA Retirement Standard. Current as at September 2026.
Put the tables together and the conclusion is plain: the average Australian at 60 is below the comfortable benchmark, and the median Australian is a long way below it. Scott and Phil put numbers on this on the podcast:
The average couple retires with around $540,000 combined against the couple benchmark, a gap of roughly $150,000 that most people never close. Around 156,000 Australians retired last year at an average age of 63.8, and the majority did it below the benchmark.
Here is the part the scary comparisons leave out: the system is built for exactly this outcome. The Age Pension pays up to $32,180 a year for singles and $48,516 for couples (as at 20 September 2026), and it flows to the majority of retirees, with around 56% of Australians over 65 receiving a full or part pension. ASFA’s own modest-lifestyle lump sums are just $110,000 for a single and $120,000 for a couple, precisely because the pension does most of the work at that level. Source: Services Australia. Being below the comfortable benchmark at 60 narrows options. It does not remove them.
What your number means at 60
Sixty is when the benchmark question turns practical, because preservation age has arrived and super can be accessed once a condition of release is met.
Around or below the median ($175,000 to $236,000): the Age Pension will do the heavy lifting from 67, and the planning centres on the seven-year gap, spending level and whether some part-time work bridges it. We ran a full scenario at a higher balance in Can I retire at 60 with $500K in Australia?, and the same logic scales down.
Around the average ($330,000 to $410,000): this is part-pension territory at 67 with genuine choices before then. The years from 60 to 67 are also the last window for catch-up: anyone whose total super balance was under $500,000 at 30 June 2026 can use unused concessional cap amounts from the past five years on top of the $32,500 annual cap for 2026-27, which is how balances in this range make their biggest late-career jumps.
Above the average ($500,000-plus): the question shifts from “enough?” to timing and structure: when to stop, how to invest through drawdown and how the balance interacts with the assets test at 67.
Please note: All figures and scenarios in this article are approximate and for illustrative purposes only. Individual outcomes will vary based on personal circumstances, investment returns and current government policy. This is general information, not personal advice.
One pattern from practice worth naming: we generally find people compare themselves to the average and stop there, when the number that actually decides their retirement is their spending. A $300,000 balance with low fixed costs and a paid-off home routinely beats a $600,000 balance carrying a mortgage and expensive habits. The benchmark that matters is yours.
Want to see what your balance supports rather than how it ranks? Run it through the free Wealthlab super calculator, and for the full breakdown at every age, see the average super balance by age in Australia.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average super balance at 60 in Australia? For the 60 to 64 age group, the average is $413,700 for men and $327,440 for women (ATO data for 2023-24, released June 2026). The medians are far lower at roughly $236,000 and $175,000, which better reflect what a typical person holds.
Is $500,000 in super good at 60? It sits above both the average and the median for the age group, and above ASFA’s midpoints. Whether it funds the retirement you want depends on spending, home ownership and timing, which we model in detail in our guide to retiring at 60 with $500K.
What super balance does a couple need at 60? ASFA’s comfortable benchmark is $730,000 combined at 67 for homeowners, alongside a part Age Pension. A couple where both partners hold the age-group average would have around $740,000. The average retiring couple actually holds closer to $540,000 combined, and many build a workable retirement around it with the pension’s help.
Why is the median so much lower than the average? A small number of very large balances pull the average up. The median is the midpoint, where half hold less and half hold more, which makes it the honest benchmark for a typical person.
Can I still grow my super meaningfully at 60? Often, yes. The concessional cap is $32,500 for 2026-27, and anyone with a total super balance under $500,000 at 30 June 2026 may also use unused cap amounts from the previous five years. Combined with continued work and compounding, the early 60s are frequently the strongest growth years of a working life.
Does a below-average balance mean I can’t retire? No. The Age Pension pays up to $32,180 a year for singles and $48,516 for couples (as at September 2026), and most Australians over 65 receive some pension. A below-average balance narrows the lifestyle range and raises the value of planning, but the system is designed around exactly these balances.
How Wealthlab Helps You Plan Beyond the Average
At Wealthlab, we help Australians turn their super balance into a clear retirement plan whether you’re below, at, or above the average.
We help you understand how long your super will last, plan retirement income around superannuation and the Age Pension, create realistic spending strategies, and build confidence around the decisions that matter most.
You don’t need to guess where you stand. You need clarity.
Book a free retirement strategy session and find out what your super balance really means for your retirement future.Or take a quiz
