Pay Increase Calculator
Got a raise — or expecting one? Enter your current pay and either a percentage bump or a flat dollar amount to see your new rate, the change per paycheck, and your new annual income. Works for hourly workers and salaried employees on any pay schedule.
Your Raise Breakdown
How Pay Raises Work
A raise can be expressed two ways: as a percentage of your current pay (e.g., "3% cost-of-living adjustment") or as a flat dollar increase (e.g., "$2 more an hour"). Both ways arrive at the same destination — a new rate — but the math is different. Percentage raises grow with you over time; flat raises stay the same regardless of where you started.
Gross vs. Net Increase
This calculator shows your gross raise — the increase before taxes. Your actual take-home increase will be smaller because federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and (in most states) state income tax all take a bite. A larger paycheck can also push some income into a higher tax bracket — though only the dollars above the bracket threshold get taxed at the higher rate, so a raise always nets out positive. For a take-home estimate, use the Paycheck Calculator.
Tips When Negotiating a Raise
- Run the numbers first. Know your current annual and per-paycheck pay, then convert any offer to both formats so you can compare apples to apples.
- Account for inflation. Anything below the current rate of inflation is effectively a pay cut in real terms.
- Look at the total compensation. A modest base raise paired with a bigger 401(k) match, more PTO, or a sign-on bonus can beat a bigger headline number.