About the Pay Raise Calculator
A pay raise looks simple, but it is easy to lose track of what it really means. Is a 4 percent raise worth more per month than a 2,000 raise? Does it keep up with rising prices? This calculator takes your current salary and either a raise in percent or a new salary, and shows the new yearly pay, the amount of the raise, the monthly, weekly and hourly figures and the extra you will see each month. If you enter the inflation rate, it also gives the raise in real terms, which tells you whether you are better off or just keeping pace with the cost of living.
Updated October 2026
How to use the Pay Raise Calculator
- 1Enter your current yearly salary.
- 2Choose whether you know the raise percentage or the new salary.
- 3Enter the percentage or the new salary.
- 4Enter your hours per week and, if you wish, the inflation rate.
- 5Read the new pay in every period and the real raise.
Worked example
With a salary of 52,000 and a 4 percent raise, the new salary is 54,080, a rise of 2,080 a year or about 173 a month. The new hourly rate on a 40-hour week is 26, up from 25. If prices rose 3 percent over the year, the real raise is 4 percent against 3 percent: about 0.97 percent, so you can buy slightly more than before.
When you compare job offers, convert each one to the same period and the same hours. A salary of 60,000 for a 45-hour week is a lower hourly rate than 56,000 for 37.5 hours, and the calculator makes that visible by showing the hourly pay for the hours you enter. Also think about what a raise does to your tax band, since part of it may be taxed more heavily, and about whether benefits such as a retirement match grow with your salary.
How to ask for a raise
- Research pay for your role and location.
- List your achievements and extra duties.
- Choose a good time, such as after a success or at a review.
- Ask for a specific figure or range.
- Be ready to discuss other benefits.
Thinking about total pay
Salary is only one part of what you earn. Bonuses, retirement matching, health cover, paid leave and flexibility all have value. If an employer cannot offer a larger raise, they may be able to improve other parts of the package. Compare offers using total compensation, not just the headline figure.
Related tools
The Salary Calculator converts between pay periods, the Percentage Change Calculator measures any rise, the Inflation Calculator shows the cost-of-living effect over years and the Hourly Rate Calculator helps if you charge for your time.
Features
- Percent raise or new salary
- Yearly, monthly, weekly and hourly pay
- Extra per month
- Raise after inflation
- Works for decreases too
- Any currency
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate a percentage raise?
Multiply your salary by one plus the raise as a decimal. A 4 percent raise on 52,000 is 52,000 × 1.04 = 54,080, an increase of 2,080 a year.
How do I find the percent of a raise?
Subtract the old salary from the new one, divide by the old salary and multiply by 100. Going from 50,000 to 55,000 is a 10 percent raise.
What is a real raise?
A raise adjusted for inflation. With a 4 percent raise and 3 percent inflation, your buying power rises by about 0.97 percent. If inflation is higher than your raise, your real pay has fallen.
What is the hourly rate for a salary?
Divide your yearly pay by the number of hours you work in a year. For a 40-hour week and 52 weeks that is 2,080 hours, so 54,080 becomes 26 an hour.
What is a typical raise?
Annual cost-of-living and merit raises are often in the 2 to 5 percent range, with larger jumps for promotions or changing jobs. Yours depends on your industry, performance and the economy.
Is the increase before or after tax?
Before. Your take-home pay will rise by less because of income tax and deductions, and part of the raise may be taxed at a higher rate.