Data Sources & Methodology
Every figure on this site comes from an official source. Here's exactly what we use and how the numbers are worked out. Last reviewed June 2026.
Where the data comes from
Superannuation & income — ATO Taxation Statistics 2022-23
Median and average super balances by age and gender (balances as at 30 June 2023), and the distribution of taxable income across taxpayers. This is the latest ATO edition; the 2023-24 release is expected later in 2026. Super balances are tabulated by ASFA. ATO Taxation Statistics 2022-23
Wealth — ABS Survey of Income and Housing 2019-20
Household net worth by age band. This remains the most recent ABS release: the 2023-24 survey was not published due to data-quality issues, so 2019-20 is genuinely the latest available. ABS Household Income and Wealth
Retirement benchmarks — ASFA Retirement Standard (Dec 2025)
The annual budget and lump sum for a “comfortable” and “modest” retirement, used in the FIRE calculator. ASFA Retirement Standard
Tax rates & super rules — ATO (current law)
Resident tax brackets for 2025-26 and the legislated cuts (the 16% rate falls to 15% on 1 July 2026 and 14% on 1 July 2027), Super Guarantee (12% since 1 July 2025), contribution caps, preservation age (60) and Age Pension age (67). ATO tax rates
How the numbers are worked out
- Super percentile. The ATO publishes the median and average balance per age/gender band, not a full curve. We model each band as a log-normal distribution from those two values to estimate your percentile — validated against the ATO's real balance brackets for the 60-64 group. The median and average shown are exact ATO figures.
- Income & wealth percentile. Interpolated directly from published ATO/ABS percentile points.
- Take-home pay. Resident 2025-26 brackets plus the 2% Medicare levy (with the low-income reduction). Excludes the Medicare levy surcharge, HECS/HELP and offsets.
- Retirement projection. Year-by-year compounding at a 4.5% real return, 3% salary growth and the 12% Super Guarantee, shown in both nominal and today's dollars.
- FIRE. Modelled in today's dollars at a 5% real return and a 4% safe withdrawal rate (FIRE number = 25× spending). Because super is locked until 60, we check two buckets separately: a “bridge” of outside-super money to age 60, and super for 60+. The Age Pension (from 67) is ignored, so real outcomes are usually a little better.
Limitations
These tools are for general information, not financial advice. Projections are estimates based on assumptions that won't match the future exactly, percentiles are modelled estimates, and everyone's circumstances differ. For decisions, speak to a licensed financial adviser. See our Terms & Privacy.