Teachers and education workers often have access to sector-specific super funds like UniSuper (for university staff) or Aware Super (formerly First State Super, popular with NSW public school teachers). These funds understand the nuances of education sector employment — defined benefit divisions, salary packaging, and the career breaks common in teaching.
The ideal super fund for education workers combines low fees, strong long-term performance, insurance tailored to the profession, and an understanding of the public sector pay structures that most teachers work within. With typical balances between $50k and $150k depending on career stage, fee structures matter significantly.
Top 5 Super Funds for Teachers & Education Workers
Ranked at a typical balance of $80,000. Data current as of April 2026.
8.50% annualised return over 10 years. total fees of $412/year (0.52% of balance) at $80,000. 0.65M members. $130B in assets under management. sector alignment: education workers, education.
- Among the lowest fees of any major fund — $245 on $50k balance
- Strong 10-year returns of 8.5% — excellent fee-adjusted performance
- 16 investment options including sustainable and ethical choices
8.10% annualised return over 10 years. total fees of $676/year (0.84% of balance) at $80,000. 1.2M members. $175B in assets under management. sector alignment: education sector, education.
- Strong performer — Growth option consistently above median over 10 years
- Socially conscious investment option available
- Good insurance through AIA with competitive premiums
8.60% annualised return over 10 years. total fees of $534/year (0.67% of balance) at $80,000. 2.3M members. $300B in assets under management. sector alignment: public-sector.
- Second-largest fund in Australia at $300 billion — massive scale advantage
- Strong 10-year returns of 8.6% across both legacy products
- Competitive fees at $275 on $50k balance
7.50% annualised return over 10 years. total fees of $638/year (0.80% of balance) at $80,000. 0.34M members. $28B in assets under management. sector alignment: public-sector.
- Strong presence in Tasmania with local member centres
- Formed from MTAA Super (transport) + Tasplan — broad industry coverage
- Physical branches for face-to-face service
8.90% annualised return over 10 years. total fees of $545/year (0.68% of balance) at $80,000. 3.4M members. $365B in assets under management.
- Consistently strong long-term returns — top quartile over 10 years
- Low total fees relative to fund size ($285 p.a. on $50k)
- Largest fund in Australia with $365 billion in assets
Fee Comparison at $80,000
How the top 5 funds compare on total annual fees at a $80,000 balance:
| # | Fund | Admin Fee | Inv. Fee | Total $/yr | Total % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UniSuper | $60 | 0.36% | $412 | 0.52% |
| 2 | Aware Super | $52 | 0.52% | $676 | 0.84% |
| 3 | Australian Retirement Trust | $78 | 0.42% | $534 | 0.67% |
| 4 | Spirit Super | $78 | 0.50% | $638 | 0.80% |
| 5 | AustralianSuper | $137 | 0.46% | $545 | 0.68% |
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 teachers & education workers:
- Fees: Total annual cost (admin fee + investment fee + indirect costs) at a $80,000 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
- UniSuper Review
The super fund for Australia's higher education and research sector.
- Aware Super Review
Major industry fund formed from the merger of First State Super and VicSuper.
- Australian Retirement Trust Review
Formed from the merger of QSuper and Sunsuper — one of Australia's largest funds.
- Spirit Super Review
Tasmania's largest industry super fund, also serving members nationally.
- AustralianSuper Review
Australia's largest super fund by membership and assets under management.