Best super fund for tradies and construction workers
Construction and trades work is physically demanding and injury-prone. The right super fund for tradies has strong TPD and income protection cover at group rates, plus long-term investment performance that keeps pace with a 40-year working life.
Cbus was built specifically for construction, building and allied industries. Its default TPD definition is worker-friendly, income protection is designed around shift and contract work, and it has 40+ years of experience paying claims in this sector. Long-term net returns are competitive with the largest industry funds.
Runners up
Solid alternatives if Cbus doesn’t fit your situation:
- AustralianSuper — 7.90% p.a. 10y return, $337/yr at $50k. Australia's largest super fund by members and assets.
- REST — 7.40% p.a. 10y return, $398/yr at $50k. Industry fund for the retail sector and younger members.
What to check before switching
- If you work across multiple industries, check Cbus accepts contributions from all your employers
- AustralianSuper is a strong generalist alternative with competitive fees
- REST tends to work better if you've moved between retail and construction employers
The three things that matter for every occupation
- 10-year net return beats any marketing claim. Check the ATO YourSuper tool.
- Fees in dollars, not percentages. At your balance, what does each fund actually charge per year?
- Insurance defaults vs your actual needs. Use our insurance cost calculator to see the retirement-savings trade-off.
Use the calculator
Plug any two funds into our compare funds calculator with your actual balance — the dollar gap over 20 years can be enormous even between “similar” funds.
General information only — not financial advice. Super decisions are long-term; verify with a licensed adviser. This page is general information; the “best” fund depends on your personal circumstances.