Super vs ETFs calculator

Same dollar of pre-tax income, two paths: salary sacrifice into super (15% tax) or take it as wages and buy ETFs in your own name. See which wins after fees, distributions and CGT.

Built on 2025-26 ATO rates · Last reviewed April 2026

Years invested

yrs

Pre-tax dollars / year

The amount you'd salary sacrifice (or earn and invest)

Marginal tax rate

Include Medicare levy (e.g. 32.5+2 = 34.5)

Gross return assumption

Super fees

Admin + investment + ICR

ETF fees (MER)

Vanguard VAS ~0.07%, VGS ~0.18%

Distribution share of return

Australian shares: ~40-50%. Global growth ETFs: ~20-30%.

Current age

yrs

Super pathway

$461,523

After 15% contrib tax + 15% earnings tax + fees. Super locked until age 60 (15 more yrs)

ETF pathway (after CGT)

$332,045

After marginal tax on contributions, distributions, plus $18,496 CGT realised at end

Winner: Super

$129,478

Super wins on tax, but you can't touch it until preservation age. The lockup is the price of the tax break.

Honest caveat. This assumes you actually invest the after-tax dollars. Most people who plan to invest "the difference" outside super spend it instead. The biggest argument for super is that the money is locked up, so it actually compounds.

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Where these numbers come from

Keep reading

Salary sacrifice explained →

General information only — not financial advice. Super decisions are long-term; verify with a licensed adviser.