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IBR Calculator for Doctors
Income-Based Repayment keeps your monthly payment tied to what you earn — not what you owe. See your exact IBR payment as a resident and as an attending, and whether IBR or SAVE is the better plan for your situation.
Calculate my IBR payment →How IBR works for physicians
Income-Based Repayment sets your monthly payment at 10% or 15% of your discretionary income — defined as your adjusted gross income minus 150% of the federal poverty guideline for your household size. During residency, when income is $65,000–$90,000, IBR payments are typically $200–$500/month.
The key feature for physicians: IBR payments are capped. They never exceed what you would owe on a standard 10-year repayment plan. As an attending earning $300,000+, your IBR payment will be capped well below what unrestricted income-percentage math would otherwise produce.
IBR also qualifies for PSLF — meaning physicians pursuing 10-year forgiveness at nonprofit hospitals can make their IBR payments and have the remaining balance forgiven tax-free. This combination is one of the most powerful financial tools in medicine.
IBR vs other IDR plans
IBR (pre-2014 loans)
Older borrowers. Payment is 15% of discretionary income. Less favorable than newer plans.
IBR (post-2014 loans)
Most current medical students. Payment is 10% of discretionary income. Better than pre-2014 IBR.
SAVE (replaces REPAYE)
Best interest subsidy. 5% on undergrad loans, 10% on grad loans. Strong protection during residency.
PAYE
Strong cap — payment never exceeds standard 10-year amount. Good for borrowers with growing income.
IBR vs SAVE payments during residency
Estimates based on $250K–$285K debt, single filer, standard deductions. SAVE payments are approximately half of IBR for graduate loans.
| TRAINING YEAR | RESIDENT SALARY | IBR (10%) | SAVE (5%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| PGY-1 (All specialties) | $68,166 | $272/mo | $136/mo |
| PGY-3 Internal Medicine | $73,301 | $360/mo | $180/mo |
| PGY-5 General Surgery | $81,807 | $452/mo | $226/mo |
SAVE halves the graduate loan percentage from 10% to 5%, making it the lower payment during most of residency. Both plans qualify for PSLF.
When IBR is the right plan
✅
You're pursuing PSLF
IBR qualifies for PSLF. If you're at a nonprofit hospital and targeting 120 payments, IBR keeps your payments low while the forgiveness clock ticks.
✅
You have older loans (pre-2014)
If you aren't eligible for SAVE or PAYE, IBR is your best IDR option. Post-2014 IBR at 10% is nearly equivalent to PAYE.
✅
You want a payment safety net
IBR caps payments at the standard 10-year amount. If you're in a high-earning specialty and income spikes, you're still protected.
⚠️
You're not pursuing PSLF
For physicians in private practice or refinancing candidates, SAVE's interest subsidy may be more valuable than IBR's cap during the short window before attending salary kicks in.
IBR FAQ for physicians
What is the IBR payment formula?
IBR payment = (AGI − 1.5 × federal poverty guideline) × 10% ÷ 12. For a single resident earning $70,000 in 2026, discretionary income is roughly $57,000, making the annual IBR obligation $5,700 or $475/month.
Is IBR better than SAVE for residents?
SAVE is generally better during residency because it uses 5% for graduate loan debt instead of IBR's 10%, cutting the payment roughly in half. SAVE also has a stronger interest subsidy — the government covers unpaid monthly interest, preventing balance growth. Both qualify for PSLF.
Does IBR cap my payment as an attending?
Yes. Your IBR payment is capped at what you would pay on a standard 10-year repayment plan. For a physician with $250K in loans, that cap is approximately $2,878/month regardless of income. Once your income-based payment would exceed that cap, it stops rising.
Can I switch from IBR to SAVE?
Yes. You can switch IDR plans at any time through your servicer or StudentAid.gov. Switching does not reset your PSLF payment count as long as each payment was made under a qualifying plan.
What happens to my IBR balance after 20 years?
Under IBR, any remaining balance is forgiven after 20 years (post-2014 borrowers) or 25 years (pre-2014 borrowers). This forgiveness is taxable — unlike PSLF forgiveness. If you're not pursuing PSLF, plan for a potential tax bill in the year of forgiveness.