Pay Raise Calculator
Estimate your new salary and see how a raise could change your monthly pay, hourly rate, and paycheck.
- 2026 figures, checked October 26, 2026
- Private: runs in your browser
- How we check our work
Result
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Verify before you act: review these results with a CPA or payroll professional before making any decision based on them.
Suggestions for your numbers
Updated as you type, from your inputs only. General information, not personal advice; confirm any change with a qualified professional.
See it over time
Hover over or tap the chart to see the numbers for any point.
What is a pay raise?
A pay raise increases your salary or wages. A raise may be stated as a percentage of your current salary or as a dollar amount. This pay raise calculator, also called a salary increase calculator, converts either figure into an estimated new salary and related pay amounts.
The calculator uses a simple formula: New salary = current salary x (1 + raise %), or current salary + raise amount. It shows the increase before taxes and other payroll deductions. Your take-home pay will usually be different because withholding and benefits affect what reaches your bank account.
Why a pay raise matters
A raise affects more than the salary figure in an offer or review. It can change the amount available for household bills, saving, debt payments, or a planned purchase. Seeing the annual increase alongside monthly and paycheck figures helps you judge how the change fits your budget.
If you manage payroll, the same calculation helps you estimate the cost of a salary adjustment before changing a budget or making a hiring decision. Consider the full compensation cost as well as the employee’s new salary. For an employee, compare the gross increase with your actual paystub after the raise takes effect.
How to use this pay raise calculator
- Enter your current salary. Use the salary amount that matches the period you want to compare, such as your annual salary.
- Choose whether the raise is a percentage or a dollar amount. Enter the proposed increase in the matching field.
- Review the new salary and the listed changes, including monthly, hourly, and per-paycheck amounts when available.
- If you are reviewing an offer, check that the raise type and amount match the written terms. If you are planning a household budget, compare the gross estimate with your expected take-home pay.
Pay raise calculator example
Worked example
With a current salary of $60,000 and a 4% raise, the new salary is $62,400. The raise adds $2,400 a year. The result shows a new monthly amount of $5,200, a new hourly rate of $30.00 based on 2,080 hours, and an extra $92.31 per biweekly paycheck. These are gross estimates before taxes and deductions.
How to read your pay raise results
New salary is your current salary plus the calculated increase. Raise and raise percentage show the added amount in dollars and as a share of your current salary. Use these figures to check that the calculator matches the offer or pay change you entered.
New monthly and new hourly translate annual salary into other pay periods. The hourly figure depends on the hours assumption shown with the result. Extra per biweekly paycheck estimates the gross increase for that pay schedule; it is not a promise of the amount added to your take-home check. Payroll withholding, benefit deductions, and pay frequency can change the amount you receive.
How to improve your chances of a raise
- 01
Build a clear case
Keep a record of completed projects, added responsibilities, and results that matter to your team. Connect your request to the work you do now and the value you bring.
- 02
Ask for a specific change
Decide whether you are requesting a percentage increase or a dollar amount. Use the calculator to understand the resulting salary, then explain your request and the reasons behind it.
- 03
Discuss the full offer
Ask when the change would begin and how it would appear on your pay statement. If salary cannot change, consider discussing other compensation or benefits that matter to you.
- 04
Plan what you will do with the increase
Before the first larger check arrives, choose how much will go toward bills, savings, or debt. Check your paystub after the change so your budget reflects actual take-home pay.
Common pay raise calculator mistakes
Entering the wrong starting salary
Use your current salary, not the salary you hope to earn. Check whether the figure is annual or for another pay period before calculating.
Mixing up percentages and dollars
A percentage is applied to your current salary. A dollar raise is added directly. Choose the option that matches how the offer is written.
Treating gross pay as take-home pay
The calculator estimates pay before payroll deductions. Review your paystub or ask payroll about the expected net change rather than budgeting the full gross increase.
Overlooking the pay schedule
A per-paycheck estimate depends on the schedule shown. Confirm your employer’s pay frequency before using that figure to plan expenses.
The pay raise formula
New salary = current salary x (1 + raise %), or current salary + raise amount.
Key terms
- Current salary
- The salary amount you earn before the raise.
- Raise percentage
- The increase expressed as a percentage of your current salary.
- Gross pay
- Pay before taxes and other payroll deductions.
- Take-home pay
- The amount left after payroll withholding and deductions.
Pay raise questions
What is a good raise?
Many employers budget 3% to 4% for annual merit raises; promotions usually run higher.
Can I calculate a raise stated as a dollar amount?
Yes. Select the dollar amount option and enter the increase. The calculator adds it to your current salary.
Does the calculator show my take-home pay?
No. The displayed salary and paycheck changes are gross estimates. Taxes, benefit costs, and other payroll deductions affect take-home pay.
Why might my paycheck increase differ from the estimate?
The estimate is based on the raise and pay schedule entered. Withholding, deductions, and payroll timing can make the amount deposited different.
Before you act on this result. Cordwell calculators and guides are educational estimates, not legal, tax, investment, lending or other professional advice. They rely on the numbers you enter and on simplified rules, and they can't see your full situation. Before you file, sign, borrow, invest, hire, change your withholding or form a business based on anything here, meet with a CPA or payroll professional who can review your specific facts and confirm the numbers. Rules change, and official agency guidance always controls.