HECS Repayment Calculator — Check Your Repayment Rate by Income
Calculate your exact HECS-HELP repayment rate based on your income. See all repayment bands and how salary changes affect your student loan payments.
HECS-HELP repayment rates are determined by your total income including salary wages rental income and capital gains. The system uses progressive bands starting at 1% for incomes just above the threshold and increasing to 10% for the highest earners. Understanding which band you fall into helps with salary negotiations and financial planning as crossing a threshold can mean hundreds of dollars more in annual repayments.
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Key Information
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Minimum Threshold | $54435 (2025-26) |
| Band 1 Rate | 1% ($54435 - $62850) |
| Band 5 Rate | 5% ($81253 - $93773) |
| Maximum Rate | 10% ($151201 and above) |
Check your HECS repayment rate
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Use Calculator NowFrequently Asked Questions
What is the HECS repayment on $80000 salary?
At $80000 total income you fall in the 4.5% repayment band. Your compulsory HECS repayment is $80000 x 4.5% = $3600 per year or $300 per month. This is deducted from your salary through PAYG withholding like income tax. If your HECS debt is $30000 at this repayment rate it takes approximately 8-9 years to fully repay (with indexation).
Does a pay rise increase HECS repayment significantly?
Moving from $80000 to $85000 could shift you from the 4.5% band to the 5% band meaning repayments jump from $3600 to $4250 per year. The $5000 salary increase gives you $3250 extra after tax but costs $650 more in HECS. You still come out ahead but be aware of band thresholds when negotiating salary. Salary sacrificing into super can reduce your repayment income.
Should I voluntarily repay HECS faster?
Since HECS is indexed to CPI (inflation) not commercial interest rates it is technically cheap debt at 3-4% effective rate. Mathematically investing your money at 7%+ returns beats voluntary HECS repayment. However some people prefer the certainty and simplicity of being debt-free. If you are saving for a home clearing HECS increases your borrowing capacity as lenders factor in the repayment obligation.
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Last updated: March 2026