Salary & Income
Pay Raise Calculator
Find out exactly how much a raise is worth — annually, and per paycheck — whether you know it as a percentage, a dollar amount, or a new salary figure.
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How the calculation works
New Annual (from %) = Current Salary × (1 + Raise% ÷ 100)
New Annual (from $) = Current Salary + Raise Amount
Raise % = Raise Amount ÷ Current Salary × 100
Per Paycheck = New Annual ÷ Pay Periods per Year
Example: Current $65,000 + 5% raise → New annual = $68,250 · Raise = $3,250 · Bi-weekly paycheck = $68,250 ÷ 26 = $2,625
Frequently Asked Questions
- Cost-of-living raises typically track inflation (2–4%). Merit raises for strong performers are usually 4–8%. A promotion-linked raise is often 10–20%. Anything below inflation effectively reduces your purchasing power.
- Research market rates for your role (Glassdoor, LinkedIn Salary, BLS data), document recent achievements and their business impact, then propose a specific number slightly above your target to leave negotiation room.
- Less than the full raise amount — additional income is taxed at your marginal rate. A $5,000 raise in the 22% federal bracket nets roughly $3,900 more per year (before state tax). Actual take-home varies with your full tax situation.
- A raise permanently increases your base salary and compounds over time. A bonus is a one-time payment that doesn't affect your base rate. Over a career, even small raises have significantly more total value than equivalent one-time bonuses.
- Bi-weekly pay = 26 paychecks per year (every two weeks). Semi-monthly = 24 (twice a month on fixed dates). Monthly = 12. Weekly = 52. Two months each year have three bi-weekly paydays instead of two.