Retail workers often have lower super balances due to part-time hours, casual employment, and lower average wages. This makes fee structures critically important — a $78 flat admin fee eats a much larger percentage of a $15,000 balance than a $150,000 one. REST (Retail Employees Superannuation Trust) is the default fund for much of the retail sector.
The best super fund for retail workers should minimise fees on smaller balances, offer insurance that is affordable for lower-income workers, and provide strong returns even on modest account sizes. Look for funds that cap fees for low balances under the government's $450k fee cap rules.
Top 5 Super Funds for Retail Workers
Ranked at a typical balance of $25,000. Data current as of July 2026.
7.20% annualised return over 10 years. total fees of $189/year (0.75% of balance) at $25,000. 0.165M members. $29B in assets under management.
- One of Australia's oldest funds — established 1947
- Strong Victorian local government heritage
- Defined benefit products still available
7.50% annualised return over 10 years. total fees of $206/year (0.82% of balance) at $25,000. 0.12M members. $18B in assets under management.
- Strong Queensland presence with local offices
- Heritage in local government and energy sectors
- Face-to-face advice available
8.90% annualised return over 10 years. total fees of $210/year (0.84% of balance) at $25,000. 3.4M members. $365B in assets under management. sector alignment: retail.
- Consistently strong long-term returns — top quartile over 10 years
- Low total fees relative to fund size ($367 p.a. on $50k)
- Largest fund in Australia with $365 billion in assets
8.50% annualised return over 10 years. total fees of $224/year (0.89% of balance) at $25,000. 0.65M members. $130B in assets under management.
- Among the lowest fees of any major fund — $351 on $50k balance
- Strong 10-year returns of 8.5% — excellent fee-adjusted performance
- 16 investment options including sustainable and ethical choices
8.30% annualised return over 10 years. total fees of $230/year (0.92% of balance) at $25,000. 1.0M members. $75B in assets under management.
- Purpose-built for health and community services workers
- Strong long-term returns — 8.3% over 10 years
- Insurance designed for healthcare occupation risks
Fee Comparison at $25,000
How the top 5 funds compare on total annual fees at a $25,000 balance:
| # | Fund | Admin Fee | Inv. Fee | Total $/yr | Total % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vision Super | $66 | 0.31% | $189 | 0.75% |
| 2 | Brighter Super | $26 | 0.50% | $206 | 0.82% |
| 3 | AustralianSuper | $52 | 0.47% | $210 | 0.84% |
| 4 | UniSuper | $96 | 0.43% | $224 | 0.89% |
| 5 | HESTA | $52 | 0.49% | $230 | 0.92% |
Use our comparison calculator to see how these funds stack up at your actual balance and contribution level over 10, 20 or 30 years.
How We Ranked These Funds
Our ranking considers multiple factors relevant to retail workers:
- Fees: Total annual cost (admin fee + investment fee + indirect costs) at a $25,000 balance
- Performance: 10-year and 5-year annualised returns on the default MySuper option
- Sector alignment: Whether the fund has specific expertise or tailoring for this segment
- APRA heatmap: The fund's fee and return ratings on APRA's MySuper Product Heatmap
- Fund size and stability: Total assets under management and member numbers
No fund pays for placement. Rankings are based on publicly available data from APRA, ATO, and individual fund disclosures.
Read Full Reviews
- Vision Super Review
Industry fund for Victorian local government and community sector workers.
- Brighter Super Review
Queensland-based industry fund formed from the merger of LGIAsuper and Energy Super.
- AustralianSuper Review
Australia's largest super fund by membership and assets under management.
- UniSuper Review
The super fund for Australia's higher education and research sector.
- HESTA Review
The super fund for health and community services workers.
Independent superannuation research · about the editor ✓ Fact-checked · updated July 2026
Source: APRA & ATO data