Teachers' super funds by state: which fund teachers use in 2026

Default super fund for government teachers, state by state

The default only matters if you never fill in a choice form and have no existing fund. Most teachers now start their first job with a fund from casual or uni work, and since stapling began, that fund follows you. So 'which super fund do teachers use?' has two answers: the one their employer defaults to, and whatever fund they already had.

Fund names that changed (and confuse payslips)

Teacher funds have merged repeatedly, so an old payslip, statement or colleague may use a name that no longer exists. If you can't find your fund, it has probably been renamed or absorbed rather than lost.

Catholic and independent school teachers

Non-government schools set their default fund in their enterprise agreement or employer policy, so it varies. What we know: employers pay the 12% Superannuation Guarantee almost everywhere, but Queensland Catholic and Lutheran schools pay 12.75% under their agreements. Brisbane Catholic Education's careers page suggests you may need to contribute yourself to get the full rate, which doesn't match the agreement wording, so check your payslip. Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) defaults to Catholic Super.

NGS Super is the fund most associated with the non-government education sector. It is still an independent fund with its own trustee (NGS Super Pty Limited) and has a 'super for teachers' section on its site. A planned merger with Australian Catholic Super was called off, and we found no current merger. Being sector-focused doesn't make a fund cheaper or better for you; compare it like any other. See Catholic and independent school teacher pay for the agreements behind these rules.

What your employer super is worth in each state

The ACT's extra 1% is the easiest money in teacher super: you get it if you contribute at least 3% of ordinary time earnings through ACT payroll. On TL8 that's $1,291 a year from the employer for a $3,873 contribution from you. Queensland's 0.75% above the SG is worth about $895 a year at Band 3 Step 4. For the rest of the country, the gap between states is driven by salary, not the rate.

Choice of fund: how to switch, and when not to

Legacy defined benefit schemes

Long-serving teachers may still be in a closed state scheme that pays a formula-based benefit rather than a market balance: NSW's SSS and SASS, Victoria's ESSSuper schemes, the QSuper defined benefit fund, WA's Gold State Super, Super SA's schemes, Tasmania's RBF and the Commonwealth CSS and PSS for some ACT and NT staff. These can be worth far more than an ordinary account, especially if you go part-time or take leave in your final years. Our defined benefit guide explains each scheme.

How to choose without a recommendation

We don't rank or recommend funds, and nothing here is personal financial advice. If you're weighing up a defined benefit scheme or a big change, talk to your fund or a licensed financial adviser. For the bigger picture on contributions, caps and Payday Super, read teacher super explained.