Pay Raise Calculator
Turn any raise — a percentage, a dollar amount, or a new rate — into what it actually means per hour, per paycheck, and per year.
| Period | Before raise | After raise | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $25.00 | $26.25 | $1.25 |
| Weekly | $1,000.00 | $1,050.00 | $50.00 |
| Biweekly | $2,000.00 | $2,100.00 | $100.00 |
| Monthly | $4,333.33 | $4,550.00 | $216.67 |
| Annual | $52,000.00 | $54,600.00 | $2,600.00 |
All figures are gross (before tax). Hourly ↔ annual conversion assumes 40 hours/week × 52 weeks. A raise can move you into a higher marginal tax bracket, but only the income above the bracket line is taxed at the higher rate — a raise never lowers your take-home pay.
Whether you are negotiating a salary increase or checking an offer letter, this calculator shows the before-and-after side by side. To see what the raise means after taxes, run the new number through the paycheck calculator, or convert between pay formats with the hourly to salary calculator.
How It Works
Enter current pay
Hourly rate or annual salary — whichever you know.
Describe the raise
As a percentage, an added amount, or the new pay figure.
See the real impact
The increase per hour, week, paycheck, month, and year.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate a pay raise percentage?+
Raise % = (new pay − old pay) ÷ old pay × 100. Going from $25.00 to $26.50 an hour is (1.50 ÷ 25) × 100 = a 6% raise. Enter your numbers above in any form — percentage, added amount, or new pay — and the calculator shows the rest.
What is a typical annual raise?+
US merit increases have averaged around 3–4% in recent years; cost-of-living adjustments track inflation. Promotions typically bring 10–20%, and changing employers often yields the largest jump. Anything at or below inflation is flat or negative in real terms.
What is a 5% raise on $50,000?+
$50,000 × 0.05 = $2,500 more per year, or about $208 more per month and $96 per biweekly paycheck before taxes.
Will a raise push me into a higher tax bracket and cost me money?+
No. US tax brackets are marginal: only the income above each bracket threshold is taxed at the higher rate. A raise always increases gross and take-home pay, though the increase is taxed at your top marginal rate.
How do I convert a raise on my hourly rate to a yearly amount?+
Multiply the hourly increase by your weekly hours and 52 weeks. A $1/hour raise at 40 hours/week is $2,080 more per year. The calculator does this automatically in hourly mode.
What is a good raise to ask for?+
A common ask is 5–10% for strong performance, or more when taking on a promotion or new responsibilities. If your pay has fallen behind the market, cite comparable salary data and ask for the gap. Aim above your target so there is room to negotiate down.
How do I calculate a cost-of-living raise?+
A cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) usually matches inflation. If prices rose 3% over the year, a 3% raise keeps your buying power flat — enter 3% above to see the dollar figure. Anything below inflation is effectively a pay cut in real terms.