Do casual employees get superannuation?

The short answer – yes. Casual, part-time and full-time employees are all eligible to receive compulsory super contribution from their employer. There are just a few extra rules if you’re aged under 18, and we’ll discuss these a little later.

Understanding the Superannuation Guarantee

By law, your employer is generally required to contribute a minimum of 12% of your pre-tax salary to your super fund. These are known as Superannuation Guarantee (SG) contributions.

You generally qualify for SG contributions if you’re:

18 years old or over, or
under 18 years old and working more than 30 hours in a week.

How are super contributions calculated for casual employees?

The calculation of super contributions for casual employees is no different to the calculation for permanent employees. In simple terms, 12% of your pre-tax salary is set aside and contributed to your super fund.

Let’s imagine Joe, a 21 year-old university student. To help fund his university studies, Joe works casually for a High Street clothing store, earning $33.95 an hour before tax . Last week, Joe worked 18 hours for a pre-tax amount of $611.10. The week before that, he worked slightly less hours as an assignment was due – that was 12 hours for a pre-tax amount of $407.40.

So with a fortnightly pre-tax salary of $1,018.50, SG contributions worth $122.22 will be paid into Joe’s super fund.

Joe’s employer makes super payments each fortnight as part of the usual pay cycle. However, it’s important to know that now all employers will do this. By law, employers are only required to make SG contributions on the 28^th day after the end of the quarter (28 January, 28 April, 28 July and 28 October). Note, from 1 July 2026 employers will have to pay your super at the same time as your pay.

Superannuation and temporary resident visa holders

When you work in Australia, your employer is generally required to make super contributions to a super fund on your behalf. This does not depend on your visa (so long as you have work rights) or tax residency status.

But if you leave Australia after having worked here on a temporary resident visa, you may be eligible to claim your super (less tax) as a Departing Australia superannuation payment (DASP).

You can only submit a DASP claim after you have left Australia and your visa has expired. However, you can start the application process before you leave, which may make it easier to complete.

Overtime loadings and super

SG contributions are technically calculated on what is known as Ordinary Time Earnings (OTE). OTE includes the amount earned for ordinary hours of work, and usually includes leave, loadings, allowances, back pay, commissions and bonuses. However, super generally isn’t paid on overtime because it’s not considered OTE (note, there may be some exceptions under certain industrial agreements or employer arrangements).

Super for casuals under 18 years of age

If you’re under 18 years of age, the rule relating to super payments is pretty simple.

You're eligible for super payments if you work more than 30 hours a week. It doesn’t matter whether you’re working casual, part-time or full-time. And it doesn't matter how much you earn.

If you have multiple casual jobs, your hours worked for each job are calculated separately. For example, if you worked 5 hours at Job A and 31 hours at Job B, you’d only qualify for super from Job B that week.

One thing to remember – if you’re under 15, you’ll need to get your parent or legal guardian to sign off on your super fund membership.

Tips for casual employees to maximise their super

Investing in super is a long-term commitment. It's what most Australians will rely on to provide financial security throughout their retirement.

To choose the right super fund for you, consider the following:

Performance

You want a super fund with good long-term performance and returns. “Long-term” will mean different things to different people, but performance over a period of at least five to seven years is generally considered a good starting point.

Insurance

Check the insurance options available through your super fund as they can provide extra protection for you in case of unexpected events. Consider the cost and any exclusions or definitions that apply.

Fees

Paying high fees can impact your super balance over time, so choose a fund with a focus on lower fees.

Service and support

Can you manage your super online or with an app? You might also want access to financial advice to help you make informed decisions about your super.

Investment options

Your fund should offer you a range of investment options that may include a default option for a hands-off approach, or you can pick your own.

Do casual employees get paid super?