Starting your first job or growing your career is exciting, but figuring out how super fits into the picture can feel like a lot. Don’t worry—we’re here to help! Whether you’re juggling casual jobs or starting full-time work, this article can help you understand the rules so you can make sure you’re getting what’s yours!
So, first things first, do part-time and casual workers get paid super?
Short answer: yes! Whether you’re working full-time, part-time, or casually, employers are generally required to pay super contributions. There are just a few extra rules for workers under 18 — but we’ll get to that.
What are employer contributions?
Before we go into the specifics, it’s important to understand that, thanks to the superannuation guarantee (SG), most employers are legally required to contribute to your super. If you’re eligible, they must contribute at least the minimum SG rate, which is currently 11.5% of your ordinary time earnings (OTE). This rate will increase to 12% from 1 July 2025.
Working casually or under 18? No problem!
Just because you’re younger or working casually doesn’t mean you’re excluded from super! The rules are simple:
- 18 years or older: You’re entitled to super no matter how many hours you work.
- Under 18: You’re entitled to super if you work at least 30 hours in a week.
If you’re under 18 and have multiple 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.
How is super calculated, especially if you don’t have set hours?
The superannuation guarantee (SG) is calculated as a percentage of your ordinary time earnings (OTE), which, simply put, is the income you earn for the hours you work, such as wages or salaries.
Super contributions automatically adjust based on your OTE for the period. So, if you’re casually employed and your hours or pay vary from week to week, your super payments will reflect those changes. If you’re under 18, SG is calculated the same way, but only for weeks when you work 30 or more hours.
Remember! All eligible employees are entitled to super for every dollar they earn, regardless of their income.
Ordinary time earnings (OTE):
For a bit more context, your ordinary time earnings (OTE) is the amount you earn for your ordinary hours of work — such as your salary or wage.
Your OTE usually includes leave, loadings, allowances, back pay, commissions, and bonuses. However, super generally isn’t paid on overtime because it’s not considered as OTE—though there are some exceptions.
How to check if you’re getting paid super
It’s important to make sure you’re getting the super you’re entitled to! Here’s how:
- Look at your payslip to see if contributions are listed.
- Check your super account to confirm the payments are being received.
Employers are only required to pay super at least four times a year, though some may contribute more frequently. If your super doesn’t match your pay cycle, it’s likely on a different schedule — check with your employer to confirm.
Good news: From 1 July 2026, employers will need to pay super at the same time as your pay.
Not getting paid super correctly? Here’s what to do
Mistakes happen — we get it! If you think your contributions are missing, incorrect or not paid at all, start by contacting your employer directly. Sometimes, it’s as simple as updating your super fund details with them.
If that doesn’t fix the issue, you can report unpaid super contributions with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).
Lost track of your super? Here’s how to find it
If you’ve lost track of your super, don’t stress — it happens! Finding your super is easier than you might think.
You can locate lost super by logging into your MyGov and linking your ATO account. You should then be able to see your active super accounts.
If you’re with UniSuper, our Combine my super tool helps you easily find and consolidate your super into your UniSuper account.
With multiple super funds? Here’s how to consolidate
It’s common to end up with more than one super account, especially if you’ve changed jobs a few times. Combining your super into one account can make things easier and help you:
- save money by paying one set of fees
- potentially grow your balance faster with compounding returns
- simplify account management
- stay organised by taking your super with you from job to job!
If you want to consolidate your super and you’ve chosen the fund you wish to stay with, combining your super into one account is easy, you can either:
- contact your preferred fund and follow their processes
- log into MyGov, link your ATO account, and consolidate through their online services
- or, as mentioned, if you’re a member with us you can use our Combine my super tool to easily find and combine your super into UniSuper.
Important! Before combining your super, make sure you check things like insurance, fees, and benefits tied to your other accounts. There are a few key things to do before consolidating your super to avoid unexpected costs or losing entitlements.
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Things you need to know
The information is of a general nature and doesn’t consider your personal circumstances. Before making decisions, you should consider whether the information is appropriate for your circumstances otherwise seek financial advice.