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Pay Raise Calculator

See exactly how a raise changes your paycheck — annual, monthly, biweekly, and hourly. Compare two offers or check if your raise keeps up with inflation.

All amounts displayed in selected currency
$
Your current gross annual salary before tax
Enter raise as a percentage or a fixed amount
%
The raise percentage (e.g. 5 for 5%)
--
Estimates only. Results are before tax. Consult a financial adviser for personalised guidance.

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How to Use This Calculator

Tab "Raise Impact"

Enter your current annual salary and raise percentage, then choose your pay frequency (monthly, biweekly, or weekly). The calculator shows your new salary, annual increase, monthly increase, and per-paycheck increase.

Tab "After Inflation"

Enter your raise percentage and the current inflation rate. The calculator reveals how much of your raise is real purchasing-power gain versus how much is eaten by rising prices. If your raise is below inflation, you are effectively taking a pay cut.

Tab "Raise vs New Job"

Enter your current salary, the raise your employer is offering, and the new job salary. Optionally include the annual commute cost difference for the new role. The calculator shows which option pays more and by how much per year and per month.

The Formulas

New salary:
New salary = Current salary × (1 + Raise%)

Annual increase:
Annual increase = Current salary × Raise%

Per-paycheck increase:
Per paycheck = Annual increase ÷ pay periods per year
(Monthly = 12, Biweekly = 26, Weekly = 52)

Real raise (inflation-adjusted):
Real raise = (1 + Raise%) ÷ (1 + Inflation%) − 1

Real annual gain:
Real annual gain = Current salary × Real raise%

All calculations use standard financial mathematics. No country-specific tax rates are applied. Results are pre-tax estimates.

Worked Examples

Example 1 — $65,000 salary with a 5% raise

An employee earning $65,000 per year receives a 5% raise.

Current salary$65,000
Raise5%
New salary$68,250
Annual increase$3,250
Monthly increase+$270.83

Calculation: $65,000 × 0.05 = $3,250 per year. Divided by 12 months = $270.83 per month. The new annual salary is $65,000 + $3,250 = $68,250.

Example 2 — 5% raise with 3% inflation

The same employee wants to know how much purchasing power the 5% raise actually adds when inflation is running at 3%.

Nominal raise5.00%
Inflation rate3.00%
Real raise1.94%
Nominal annual increase$3,250
Real annual gain$1,262
Lost to inflation$1,988

Calculation: (1.05 ÷ 1.03) − 1 = 0.01942, or about 1.94%. Of the $3,250 nominal increase, only about $1,262 represents real purchasing-power gain. The rest offsets inflation.

Example 3 — $68,250 raise vs $75,000 new job with $4,000 commute cost

After the 5% raise, the employee has a $68,250 salary. A competing company offers $75,000 but the new commute adds $4,000 per year.

Current + raise$68,250
New job offer$75,000
Commute cost difference-$4,000/yr
New job net$71,000
Difference+$2,750/yr for new job
Monthly difference+$229/mo

Even after accounting for the extra $4,000 commute, the new job nets $71,000 versus $68,250 — a $2,750 per year advantage, or about $229 per month. The employee should also weigh benefits, job security, and growth potential.

Frequently Asked Questions

Multiply your current salary by the raise percentage to get the annual increase. For example, a 5% raise on a $65,000 salary gives $3,250 more per year, or about $271 more per month. Your new salary would be $68,250.
A real raise is your nominal raise adjusted for inflation using the formula: Real raise = (1 + Raise%) / (1 + Inflation%) - 1. A 5% raise with 3% inflation gives a real raise of about 1.94%. Only this portion represents actual purchasing-power growth.
It depends on inflation and your industry. If inflation is 3%, a 5% raise means only about 1.94% real growth. In many industries, 3-5% is standard for meeting expectations, while 7-10%+ typically reflects a promotion or exceptional performance.
Compare total compensation, not just salary. Factor in commute costs, benefits, signing bonuses, and non-monetary aspects like job security, growth potential, and work-life balance. Use the "Raise vs New Job" tab to run the numbers side by side.
On a $65,000 salary, a 5% raise adds $3,250 per year. That breaks down to about $271 per month, $125 per biweekly paycheck, or $62.50 per weekly paycheck — all before taxes. Your actual take-home increase depends on your marginal tax bracket.

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