How Much Should You Have Saved by 30 in Australia? (Real Numbers)

If you're 30 and feeling behind on savings, here's something that might make you feel better — or worse, depending on your perspective: most Australians don't have as much saved as the internet tells you they should.

According to ABS data and various surveys, the median savings (not including super) for Australians aged 25-34 sits somewhere around $20,000-$30,000. That's the median — meaning half have less than that.

The average is higher (closer to $40,000-$50,000), but averages get skewed by people who inherited money, got into property early, or work in high-paying industries. The median is the more honest number.

If you're 30 with $15,000 in savings, you're not a disaster. You're roughly in line with a large chunk of your peers. If you've got $50,000+, you're ahead of most. And if you've got $500 in a savings account and a maxed-out Afterpay balance — look, you're not alone, but it's time to make some changes.

Your superannuation is separate from your savings, but it's part of your total financial picture. Here's where the typical Australian sits at 30:

The median super balance for 25-29 year olds is around $30,000-$35,000. For 30-34 year olds, it's around $50,000-$60,000. These figures come from APRA data and various industry reports.

If you've been working full-time since your early 20s with the current 12% employer super contribution, and your fund has delivered average returns, you'd expect to have roughly $55,000-$70,000 in super by age 30.

But plenty of people have less because:

• They worked part-time or casual through their 20s
• They had gaps in employment (travel, study, parental leave)
• They have multiple super accounts eating away at their balance with duplicate fees and insurance premiums
• Their fund has underperformed

If you've got multiple super accounts, consolidate them. Use the ATO's myGov portal to find lost super and roll it into a single fund. Those duplicate fees add up to thousands over a lifetime. Use our super calculator to see where your balance should be tracking.

Forget about what Instagram finance gurus tell you. The most important savings benchmark at 30 (or any age) is your emergency fund.

The standard recommendation is 3-6 months of essential living expenses sitting in a high-interest savings account you can access immediately. If your essential monthly expenses are $3,000, that's $9,000-$18,000.

Why does this matter so much? Because life happens. You get made redundant. Your car dies. You need emergency dental work. Without an emergency fund, you're one bad month away from credit card debt or worse.

At 30, if you've got nothing else sorted, get your emergency fund in place first. Before investing, before extra super contributions, before anything. This is your financial foundation.

How to build it: set up an automatic transfer to a separate high-interest savings account on payday. Even $50 a week gets you to $2,600 in a year. $100 a week gets you to $5,200. It's not exciting, but it's the difference between a manageable setback and a financial crisis.

If you're 30 and your savings aren't where you want them, the good news is you've got time. The bad news is you need to start now — not next month, not after your next holiday, now.

Step 1: Suss out where your money is actually going. Track every dollar for a month. Most people are shocked when they see how much goes to food delivery, subscriptions they forgot about, and random purchases. Knowledge is power here.

Step 2: Cut the obvious waste. Cancel unused subscriptions. Cook more. Bring lunch to work. This isn't about living like a monk — it's about being intentional. Even saving $200/month that was going to Uber Eats is $2,400/year.

Step 3: Automate your savings. Set up an automatic transfer on payday. Treat it like a bill — it goes out before you can spend it. Start with whatever you can manage and increase it as your income grows.

Step 4: Increase your income. This is the biggest lever. Negotiate a pay rise, switch to a higher-paying job, pick up overtime, start a side hustle. Cutting expenses has a floor. Income growth doesn't.

Step 5: Consolidate your super. If you've got three super accounts from different jobs, you're paying three sets of fees. Roll them into one. Future you will thank you.

Here's a rough guide to where Australians typically sit at each age. These are medians — meaning the middle of the pack. Don't compare yourself to the top 10%.

• Age 25: Savings $10,000-$15,000 | Super $15,000-$25,000
• Age 30: Savings $20,000-$30,000 | Super $50,000-$65,000
• Age 35: Savings $30,000-$50,000 | Super $80,000-$110,000
• Age 40: Savings $40,000-$70,000 | Super $120,000-$170,000
• Age 45: Savings $50,000-$80,000 | Super $170,000-$250,000

If you're above these ranges, you're doing well. If you're below, you're not broken — you just need to take action. And remember: the savings figures don't include property equity. If you own a home, your net worth is likely much higher than your cash savings suggest.

The most important thing isn't where you are right now. It's the trajectory. Someone at 30 with $10,000 in savings but a solid savings plan and growing income is in a better position than someone with $50,000 who's spending more than they earn.

Comparison is the thief of joy, and financial comparison is the worst kind. Social media makes it look like everyone your age is buying property and taking European holidays. They're not. Most of them are in the same boat as you, they're just not posting about it.

At 30, here's what actually matters financially:

• An emergency fund. 3-6 months of expenses. This is non-negotiable
• No high-interest debt. If you've got credit card debt or Afterpay balances, pay those off before saving. Interest on debt outpaces interest on savings every time
• A consolidated super account with a decent fund (check your fund's performance against industry benchmarks)
• A savings habit. Even if the amount is small, the habit is what counts
• Income growth. Are you earning more than you were two years ago? If not, that's the biggest thing to fix

Use our budget planner to build a plan that works for your actual income and expenses — not some aspirational budget from a finance blog written by someone on $200K.