Super is one of those things that gets handed to you on day one of your apprenticeship — a form to fill out, a fund name you’ve never heard of — and then you never think about it again. Fair enough, you’ve got tools to buy and TAFE assignments due. But super is real money that’s legally yours, going into an account with your name on it every time you get paid. Sort it out now, while you’re young, and you’re giving your future self a gift that keeps compounding for decades.
This isn’t about picking the “best” fund — that’s not something a website should be telling you. It’s about understanding how the system works, making sure your boss is actually paying what they’re supposed to, and not letting your super get lost or eaten up by fees you don’t need to pay.
This guide covers: what your employer legally has to pay, how to check it’s landing in your account, why one super account beats three, and what the “insurance” bit inside your super actually is.
The short version (TL;DR)
- Your employer must pay 12% of your ordinary earnings into your super fund — the rate since 1 July 2025 and the final scheduled increase.
- From 1 July 2026, “payday super” rules mean employers generally pay your super within 7 business days of payday, not quarterly.
- You can check what’s been paid into your super, and when, through myGov (ATO online services) — for free.
- Changed jobs a few times? You might have more than one super account — each one can charge its own fees.
- Almost $19 billion sits in lost or unclaimed super across Australia. Search for yours free through myGov.
- Many funds include life, TPD and income protection insurance automatically — rules differ if you’re under 25 or have a low balance. Check what you’re covered for and what it costs.
What your employer is actually supposed to pay
This is called the Super Guarantee (SG). Employers must contribute 12% of your ordinary time earnings into your super fund — the rate since 1 July 2025, and the final increase under the legislated schedule. It applies whether you’re full-time, part-time or casual, as long as you’re 18 or over, or under 18 and working more than 30 hours a week.
Traditionally, super was only paid quarterly, with a deadline 28 days after each quarter ended. That’s changing: from 1 July 2026, new “payday super” rules mean employers generally need to pay your super within 7 business days of paying your wages — a big shift for payroll systems, so don’t be surprised if pay processes look different this year.
How to check your super is actually being paid
You don’t have to take anyone’s word for it — check yourself, for free, in a few taps.
- Log in to myGov and link your ATO online services (or use the ATO app).
- Go to Super, then Fund details or transaction history to see contributions your employer has reported.
- Compare what’s shown against your payslips, which should list the super amount being paid.
Balances shown through myGov are generally based on the most recent 30 June figures reported to the ATO, so for a current balance, check your fund’s own app too. If you think your super isn’t being paid correctly or on time, the ATO has a process for reporting unpaid super — see the link below.
Why having one super account beats having three
Worked a few different jobs — say a stint in retail before your apprenticeship, then a new employer partway through? You might have ended up with more than one super account without realising it. Each account can come with its own admin fees and sometimes its own insurance premiums, quietly nibbling away at your balance. Two or three small accounts can end up costing more in fees than one decent-sized one.
Under “choice of fund” rules, most employees get to pick which fund their super goes into. If you don’t choose one, your employer will generally check whether you have a “stapled” fund from previous employment before defaulting you into a new one. Through myGov you can see all your super accounts in one place, and consolidate them into one — for free, without paying anyone to do it for you.
Before consolidating accounts, check what insurance cover you’d be closing along with the account — see below.
Lost and unclaimed super
Australia is sitting on close to $19 billion in super that’s been lost or gone unclaimed — often from short-term jobs, old addresses, or name changes never updated with a fund. It’s still your money. Search for it for free through myGov, the ATO app, or by phone. If you’ve moved house since your first job, or worked somewhere years ago and never thought about the super, it’s worth a five-minute check.
The power of starting early (an illustrative example only)
Super grows through compounding — earnings get added to your balance, and future earnings are then calculated on that bigger balance, year after year. Apprentices are often in their late teens or early twenties, so you’ve got more years for that compounding to work than someone starting later.
To be clear, this isn’t a promise or prediction — nobody can guarantee investment returns, and outcomes depend on your fund, its fees, and market conditions over decades. But as a purely illustrative example: if a fund’s investments were to grow at some assumed average rate over a very long period, a small extra contribution made in your twenties has far more years to compound than the same contribution made in your forties. That’s the idea behind “the earlier you sort your super out, the more time it has to work for you” — not a specific figure to bank on.
Insurance inside your super
Most super funds bundle in some insurance automatically — usually life and total and permanent disability (TPD) cover, sometimes income protection too. It’s a useful safety net, especially in a physical trade job, since you often get cover without a medical check.
A few things worth knowing:
- Funds generally aren’t required to provide this cover automatically to members under 25 or with a low balance (a threshold set in law) — unless you’re in a “dangerous occupation” category, where automatic cover may still apply but you can opt out.
- Premiums come straight out of your super balance, reducing the amount growing for retirement in exchange for the protection.
- Multiple accounts can mean paying for multiple lots of insurance without realising — another reason to check via myGov.
Whether insurance through super suits you depends on your age, health, family circumstances and other cover you already have — a personal call, not something a general guide can make for you. The key is knowing it’s there and what it’s costing you.
Frequently asked questions
Do apprentices get paid super the same as everyone else?
Yes. If you’re an employee aged 18 or over, or under 18 and working more than 30 hours a week, you’re generally entitled to super guarantee contributions at the current 12% rate, same as any other employee.
What if my employer isn’t paying my super?
Check your ATO online services account through myGov first to see what’s been reported. If contributions look missing or late, the ATO has a process for individuals to report unpaid super — see the link below.
Is it worth having more than one super account?
Generally no — multiple accounts usually mean multiple sets of fees, sometimes duplicate insurance premiums too. Most people are better off consolidating to one, but check what insurance you’d lose before closing any account.
Does payday super mean I get paid super weekly now?
Depends how often you’re paid. From 1 July 2026, employers must pay your super within 7 business days of payday — so if you’re paid weekly, your super should generally land roughly weekly too, instead of waiting until quarter’s end.
This guide is general information only — not financial, legal or tax advice. Amounts and rules change and vary by state and situation. Always confirm with the official sources linked above or a registered professional before making decisions. Information correct as at July 2026.
Official sources: ATO — Super guarantee rate, ATO — About payday super, ATO — Keeping track of your super online, Moneysmart — Find lost super, Moneysmart — Choosing a super fund, Moneysmart — Insurance through super.