On this page
Put HELP into the budget before accepting an offer
Two people on the same salary can have different take-home pay if one has HELP debt. Enter the debt setting before comparing a job offer with your rent, loan repayments or savings target.
You do not need to enter your whole debt balance for a usual annual estimate. The balance matters most when you are close to finishing the loan. Use the optional balance field if the calculated repayment could exceed what you owe.
What HELP changes at three salaries
These salaries are cash pay before employer super. The repayment-income column applies the selected $1,000 work deduction and assumes no other income or reportable benefits.
The monthly HELP amount is the annual liability divided by 12. Payroll withholding can differ, and a smaller remaining debt balance can cap the final repayment.
| Gross salary | HELP income | Monthly HELP equivalent | Monthly cash |
|---|---|---|---|
| $70,000 | $69,000 | $0.00 | $4,783 |
| $90,000 | $89,000 | $243.40 | $5,673 |
| $100,000 | $99,000 | $368.40 | $6,115 |
Tell payroll, then check the annual result
Your employer needs to know if you have a study or training loan so it can withhold the extra amount. The final repayment is assessed after the year ends, based on repayment income from all relevant sources.
If you have two jobs, salary packaging or investment income, each payslip may show only part of the picture. The HELP repayment guide explains the add-backs that a salary-only estimate can miss.
Start with the salary on your contract
Enter your pay before tax. A salary advertised as “plus super” is the cash salary; employer super is paid on top. If the offer says “including super”, select that option so you do not count retirement savings as money for bills.
Choose how you are paid, then add HELP debt if it applies. Most readers can leave the extra settings closed. They are there for salary sacrifice, private hospital cover and a family income check.
What the result tells you
The estimate starts with a full year of the same salary. It works out income tax, the low income tax offset where eligible, Medicare, any Medicare levy surcharge and compulsory HELP repayments. Employer super is shown separately.
For 2026-27, the annual estimate includes the new standard work deduction for eligible salary income unless you turn it off. The deduction is settled at tax time. Your employer may withhold more during the year, so the figures are a budgeting guide rather than a promise about your next payslip.
Weekly, fortnightly and monthly figures are annual amounts divided by 52, 26 and 12. Payroll timing, a part-year job, other income and personal deductions can change the final result.
Common questions
Does the 20% study debt reduction remove repayments?
A lower debt balance does not automatically remove compulsory repayments. The repayment still depends on annual repayment income, up to the amount remaining on the loan. Check the balance shown in your ATO account.
Sources you can check
Sources checked for this page on 3 October 2026. Statistics keep their own measurement dates.