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Does Base Salary Include Super? Understanding Your Pay in Australia
Find out if base salary includes super in Australia. Learn how awards and the national minimum wage define base pay, and what your salary index means.
Base salary does not include super; super is paid on top. The national minimum wage base is index 48.2, and award rates are higher base rates.
Does base salary include super?
When you see a salary figure in a job ad or contract, the first question is often: does that include super? In Australia, the answer is usually no. Base salary is the gross amount you earn before any additional payments, including the superannuation guarantee. Super is a separate contribution your employer must pay into your super fund, calculated as a percentage of your ordinary time earnings.
What the law says
Under the Fair Work Act 2009, the national minimum wage and modern award rates are base rates. They do not include super. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of an employee’s ordinary time earnings, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830. That means if your base salary is $80,000, your employer must pay an extra $9,600 into your super account each year.
Award rates are also base rates. For example, the entry-level award floor from 1 July 2026 is $25.74 per hour. That is the minimum base pay for an adult employee under a modern award. Super is paid on top. The national minimum wage itself is $26.26 per hour, which becomes $33.05 per hour with casual loading – again, super is extra.
Base salary and the Salary Index
The Salary Index measures your gross ordinary-time earnings against the national line of 100. The national line is $108,352 per year (based on ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). If your base salary is $50,000, your index is about 46. If it’s $80,000, your index is about 74. These figures are your base pay only. Super is not counted in the index because it is not part of your ordinary-time earnings – it’s a separate contribution.
Awards versus the national minimum wage
Both awards and the national minimum wage set base rates. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week. That’s an index of 48.2. Award rates are often higher, but they are still base rates. For example, the retail trade industry has an average index of 75.9, meaning the typical base salary in retail is about 76% of the national line. In mining, the index is 154.7 – much higher base pay, but still excluding super.
When comparing your pay, always check whether the figure is base or total package. Some employers advertise a “total remuneration package” that includes super. For instance, a job might say “$90,000 package including super”. That means your base salary is about $80,357 (since 12% super on $80,357 is $9,643, totalling $90,000). But if the ad says “$90,000 base plus super”, your total package would be $100,800.
How to read your contract
Your employment contract should clearly state whether the salary is base or total. Look for phrases like “base salary”, “annual salary”, or “ordinary time earnings” – these are usually exclusive of super. If it says “total remuneration” or “package”, super is likely included. If you’re unsure, ask your employer or check the relevant pay guides for your industry.
Why it matters
Knowing whether super is included affects your take-home pay and your retirement savings. If you think you’re earning $80,000 but that figure includes super, your base is actually lower. That can impact your borrowing power, award entitlements, and even your tax. For example, the tax-free threshold is $18,200 for 2026–27, and tax rates apply to your base salary. Super is taxed differently (at 15% within the fund).
State and industry differences
Your base salary may also vary by location. The states page shows that the ACT has the highest average index at 109.9, while Tasmania is lowest at 88.6. These are base earnings benchmarks. Similarly, industries like professional, scientific and technical services have an index of 114.7, meaning base salaries are above the national line. Super is always additional.
The bottom line
In standard Australian employment, base salary does not include super. The national minimum wage, award rates, and most advertised salaries are base figures. Super is paid on top at 12% (from 1 July 2026). Always clarify whether a quoted figure is base or total package, and use the Salary Index to see where your base pay sits against the national average.
Questions people ask
Does base salary include super in Australia?
No, base salary in Australia typically does not include superannuation. Super is a separate employer contribution calculated on top of your base salary. The national minimum wage and award rates are all base rates, with super paid additionally. Always check your contract: if it says 'base salary', super is extra; if it says 'total remuneration package', super may be included in that figure.
Is super included in the salary shown on job ads?
It depends. Many job ads show a base salary figure, meaning super is additional. Others show a 'total package' that includes super. Australian law requires employers to pay super on top of ordinary time earnings, so unless stated otherwise, assume the advertised figure is base. Look for phrases like 'plus super' or 'including super' to be sure.
What is the difference between base salary and total package?
Base salary is your gross pay before any extras like super, bonuses, or allowances. Total package (or total remuneration) includes base salary plus employer super contributions and sometimes other benefits. For example, a $70,000 base salary with 12% super gives a total package of $78,400. When comparing jobs, always compare like with like – base to base or package to package.