On this page (8 sections)
The short answer
Most Australian teachers can access their super from 60, the preservation age for anyone born on or after 1 July 1964, once they retire or end a job. From 65 you can access it regardless. The Age Pension starts at 67. Teachers in a closed state defined benefit scheme may have their own retirement age, such as 55 or 58.
- Preservation age: 60 (born on or after 1 July 1964).
- Transition to retirement: from 60 while still working.
- Unrestricted access: 65, even if you keep teaching.
- Age Pension age: 67 (born on or after 1 January 1957).
The four ages that matter
Preservation age
60
Earliest super access in most cases
Super with no conditions
65
Even if still working
Age Pension age
67
Means tested
Some DB scheme ages
55–58
Scheme rules, check yours
There's no compulsory retirement age for teachers in Australia. You can keep teaching as long as you're registered and employed. What's fixed is when you can get at your money: your super, any defined benefit, and the Age Pension. Retiring earlier than those ages means living off savings, long service leave or other income until they kick in.
When can you afford to retire? Build a retirement timeline around your scheme and age. General information; your first plan is free. Build my timeline →Preservation age: when you can reach your super
Preservation age is the earliest age you can access super that's 'preserved', which for nearly all teachers is all of it. If you were born on or after 1 July 1964 (anyone under 62 today), it's 60. Teachers born earlier had a preservation age between 55 and 59, and have already passed it.
Reaching 60 isn't enough on its own. You also need to meet a condition of release. The main ones for teachers are below.
General information on the federal preservation rules. Defined benefit schemes add their own rules on top; see below.
Defined benefit schemes have their own ages
If you're in a closed state defined benefit scheme, the scheme decides when its benefit is paid, as well as preservation rules. Ages range from 55 to 60. Leaving before the scheme's age often means a smaller, deferred benefit. Full scheme details are in our guide to teacher defined benefit super schemes.
Sources: State Super, ESSSuper, QSuper, GESB, Super SA, CSC. Your benefit statement shows your own ages, which can differ for older transferees.
The Age Pension at 67
Age Pension age is 67 for anyone born on or after 1 January 1957, so it's 67 for every teacher still working today. It's paid by Services Australia and is means tested on both income and assets, so a teacher with a large super balance or DB pension may get a part pension or none.
That leaves a gap. A teacher who retires at 60 has seven years funded only by super, savings or a DB benefit before any pension. Planning that bridge is usually the biggest decision in a teacher's retirement.
What retiring at 55, 60, 65 or 67 looks like
How much super a NSW Step 7 teacher gets each year from their employer
- Salary (Step 7, from 9 Oct 2026)
- $133,422
- Employer super at 12%
- $16,011 a year
- After 15% contributions tax in the fund
- about $13,609
Site's 2026–27 tax engine. Every extra year you teach adds this much, plus investment earnings, and one fewer year you need to fund. That's why the last few years before 60 or 65 often matter most.
Free calculator
Teacher super calculator
See what your balance could be at 60, 65 or 67 using your state, step and any extra contributions.
Project my superEasing out: transition to retirement, part-time and leave
You don't have to stop all at once. From 60 you can start a transition to retirement (TTR) income stream while you keep working, which lets you drop to part-time and top up your pay from super, or salary sacrifice more while drawing a TTR pension. Our transition to retirement guide for teachers works through both with real numbers.
Two other levers are specific to teaching. Long service leave can be taken before your final day, often at half pay for twice as long, which stretches your income. Check your state's long service leave rules and run the long service leave calculator. And many teachers move to part-time or job share for their last few years; see part-time teaching and job share. If you're in a DB scheme, ask how part-time affects your final salary first.
A retirement checklist for teachers
Two to five years before you plan to stop
- Get your super statement and, if you're in a DB scheme, a benefit estimate at each exit age you're considering.
- Find out your long service leave balance and whether you can take it before retiring or have it paid out.
- Consolidate any small accumulation accounts from earlier jobs (unless they hold insurance you need).
- Check how much room you have under the $32,500 concessional cap for 2026–27, and any carry-forward amounts.
- Decide whether part-time, TTR or long service leave suits you better than a hard stop.
- Work out your bridge to 67: how many years until the Age Pension, and what funds them.
- Check your teacher registration renewal date if you might do casual relief work after retiring.
- Book time with your fund's advice service or a licensed financial adviser for the big decisions.
This is general information, not personal advice. Your fund can confirm your preservation age, conditions of release and any DB scheme rules. Thinking of leaving teaching before retirement age? See leaving teaching in Australia.
Frequently asked questions
Can teachers retire at 55 in Australia?
What is the preservation age for teachers?
Can I access my super at 60 if I'm still teaching?
What age can teachers get the Age Pension?
Do teachers have to retire at a certain age?
What age can I retire on NSW SASS?
Can I keep teaching after 65 and get my super?
Sources we checked · last verified 2026-10-17
About this page
Written and fact-checked by the TeacherPay AU Editorial Team against the enterprise agreements, awards and official pages listed in the sources. It is general information, not personal financial, tax or legal advice. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll fix it, usually within a day. See our editorial policy and how we calculate.
Keep reading
Retirement
Transition to retirement for teachers: how TTR works, with real numbers
How a transition to retirement income stream works for teachers aged 60 to 64, two worked strategies, and when it doesn't help.
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Teacher defined benefit super schemes: state by state, with formulas
Every closed state teacher defined benefit scheme, when it closed, how the benefit formula works and the traps for long-serving teachers.
Super
Teacher superannuation explained: rates, funds and rules for 2026–27
How much super teachers get in each state, which fund it goes to, and the rules that matter in 2026–27.
Long service leave
Teacher long service leave in Australia: what you get in every state
How much long service leave teachers get after 10 years in each state, when you can take it early, and how to stretch it.
Career change
Leaving teaching in Australia: jobs for ex-teachers, and what to sort out before you resign
Where Australian teachers go when they leave, how to pitch your experience, and the leave, super and registration details to settle first.