Will a software engineer ever pay off their student loan?
3-year degree · Estimated total loan: £60,222
Repayment at starting vs mid-career salary
On a starting software engineer salary of £35,000/year, monthly repayments are £75. The loan would not be fully repaid before the 40-year write-off. Total repaid over 40 years: ~£36,000 of a £60,222 loan.
At a mid-career salary of £65,000/year, repayments rise to £300/month and the loan could be fully repaid in ~17 years.
Monthly take-home impact
Student loan repayments come out via PAYE before your salary hits your account. You budget to your take-home, not your gross salary.
Starting salary take-home
Mid-career take-home
Estimates based on 2025/26 tax rates and personal allowance of £12,570. Does not account for pension contributions, student loan interest, or salary sacrifice schemes.
Salary data
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Full salary breakdown by region, experience, and sector →