Paid sooner, invested sooner: payday super to give young Australians a compounding head start

What payday super means for workers: 

• Super will be paid at the same time as salary and wages from 1 July 2026.
• Contributions must generally reach a worker’s super fund within seven business days of payday.
• Money can be invested sooner, giving contributions more time to compound over a working life.
• More regular payments may make it easier to check whether super is being paid correctly. 

Millions of young Australians could get a stronger start on retirement savings under payday super, with employer contributions to be paid closer to when wages are earned from 1 July 2026. 

Under the reform, employers will need to pay superannuation guarantee contributions at the same time as salary and wages, rather than at least quarterly. Contributions must generally reach an employee’s super fund within seven business days of payday. 

Aware Super Retirement Experience Lead Kate Rolfe, said the change could make a meaningful difference over a working life. 

“Payday super is powerful because it changes the timing. Super belongs to workers when they earn it - and from July 1, it should start working for them much sooner,” said Ms Rolfe. 

“That matters because super compounds over decades. Getting contributions in sooner will not make people rich overnight, but over 30 or 40 years those extra weeks and months invested can make a real difference.” 

ASFA modelling shows a 25-year-old on average wages could be around $5,000 better off at retirement from receiving super fortnightly rather than quarterly. Missing just one year of contributions at age 30 could mean around $25,000 less at retirement.* 

For Aware Super member and primary school teacher Samantha Walsh, the change has prompted her to pay closer attention to her retirement savings. 

“Super used to feel like something happening in the background. Payday super makes it feel more real - I can see my money going in, know it’s being invested sooner, and feel like I’m doing something for my future every time I’m paid,” said Ms Walsh^. 

Ms Rolfe said payday super should also make it easier for workers to spot missing or late payments earlier, particularly younger workers, casual employees and people changing jobs. 

“This is not extra money from employers - it is workers’ own money reaching their super sooner,” she said. “When contributions arrive more regularly, people can check their payslip against their super account and feel more confident their retirement savings are on track.” 

ENDS 

* ASFA modelling shows a 25-year-old on average wages could be around $5,000 better off at retirement from receiving super fortnightly rather than quarterly. ASFA modelling also shows missing just one year of contributions at age 30 can mean around $25,000 less at retirement. This is for illustrative purposes only. It relies on various assumptions. If actual circumstances differ from these assumptions, actual results will be different. 

^ The view expressed here belongs to the individual concerned and people’s experience may differ. 

Issued by Aware Super Pty Ltd ABN 11 118 202 672, AFSL 293340, the trustee of Aware Super ABN 53 226 460 365. General advice only. Consider your objectives, financial situation, or needs, which have not been accounted for in this information and read the PDS and TMD at aware.com.au/PDS. Past performance is not an indicator of future performance.