What this calculator does
See what your raise means for your new pay and for every paycheck. A raise is usually announced as a percent, but what you notice is the difference in each paycheck. This calculator connects the two. Enter your current salary or hourly rate, and the raise as a percent or a dollar amount. You'll get your new pay, plus the change per year, per month and per paycheck.
It also works backward. Say you know your old and new pay, for example from an offer letter or a new job. It tells you what percent raise that is. That makes it easy to compare offers or check a raise against inflation.
Where it's used
Why this math matters outside the classroom:
- Percent raise. A salary that rises from $50,000 to $53,000 has gone up 6%.
- Hourly raise. A 3% raise on $20 an hour brings the rate to $20.60.
- Per paycheck. A $3,000 yearly raise adds about $115.38 to each of 26 biweekly paychecks.
- Comparing offers. Job seekers compare a new offer with current pay as a percent increase.
Grade level and standards: Grade 7; Common Core State Standards for Mathematics 7.RP.A.3. © Copyright 2010. National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and Council of Chief State School Officers. All rights reserved.
How to use it
- Choose whether you know the raise as a percent, as an amount, or only your old and new pay.
- Enter your current pay and pick per year or per hour. For hourly pay, enter the hours you work in a typical week.
- Enter the raise percentage, the raise amount or the new pay.
- Read the new pay or the raise percentage. Then check the table for the change on each paycheck.
What the inputs mean
- Current pay
- Your gross pay, before taxes and deductions. Use the same unit, per year or per hour, for the raise amount and the new pay.
- Raise
- Enter a negative percent to see a pay cut.
- Raise amount
- In the same unit as your current pay (per year or per hour).
- New pay
- In the same unit as your current pay (per year or per hour).
- Hours worked per week
- Used to turn an hourly rate into yearly pay: rate × hours × 52 weeks. Include paid time off if it's paid at the same rate.
Formula and method
raise = current pay × raise% ÷ 100 new pay = current pay + raise raise% = (new pay − old pay) ÷ old pay × 100 yearly pay (hourly) = rate × hours per week × 52 change per paycheck = yearly change ÷ paychecks per year
The raise percentage is always measured against your old pay. That's why a 10% cut followed by a 10% raise doesn't bring you back to where you started. The raise is taken on the smaller amount.
Each paycheck is your yearly pay divided by the number of paychecks. That's 52 if you're paid weekly, 26 every two weeks, 24 twice a month and 12 monthly. Every two weeks and twice a month sound alike, but they differ by two paychecks a year.
Worked example
You earn $60,000 a year and are offered a 4% raise. You are paid every two weeks.
- Raise: $60,000 × 4% = $2,400.00 a year.
- New salary: $60,000 + $2,400 = $62,400.00.
- Per paycheck: $2,400 ÷ 26 = $92.31 more every two weeks, or $200.00 a month.
- Working backward, going from $60,000 to $63,000 would be a $3,000 raise. That's $3,000 ÷ $60,000 × 100 = 5%.
Result: Your new salary is $62,400.00, and each paycheck grows by $92.31 before taxes.
Understanding the result
The per-paycheck figure is gross, meaning before taxes. Income tax, payroll taxes and any percent-based deductions, such as retirement contributions, all take a share. So the change in your take-home pay will be smaller.
To see whether a raise beats inflation, compare the raise percentage with the inflation rate over the same period. A raise smaller than inflation means you can actually buy less than before.
Assumptions and limitations
- Pay is gross, before taxes and deductions.
- Hourly pay is turned into yearly pay over 52 weeks, at the same hours every week, with no overtime.
- Paycheck counts are the standard 52, 26, 24 and 12 a year. Some years have an extra weekly or every-two-weeks payday.
- Taxes, benefit costs and retirement contributions aren't included.
- Bonuses, commissions, overtime and shift differentials (extra pay for night or weekend shifts) aren't included.
- Results are estimates for planning. Your employer's payroll may round differently.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate my raise percentage?
Subtract your old pay from your new pay, divide by your old pay, and multiply by 100. From $60,000 to $63,000 is $3,000 ÷ $60,000 × 100 = 5%. Choose the old-and-new-pay option to have this done for you.
How much is a 3% raise on an hourly wage?
Multiply the rate by 0.03. On $25 an hour, that is $0.75, for a new rate of $25.75. At 40 hours a week for 52 weeks, it adds $1,560 a year before tax.
Why is my paycheck increase smaller than I expected?
The figures here are gross, before taxes. Federal and state income tax, Social Security and Medicare, and percent-based deductions all take a share of the extra pay. So your take-home pay rises by less than the gross amount.
Is a raise the same as a cost-of-living adjustment?
A cost-of-living adjustment is a raise meant to keep pace with inflation, so your buying power stays the same. A merit raise or promotion is meant to increase your real pay. The arithmetic here is the same for either.
How this calculator is checked
Method: Percentage increase relative to the original pay; annualization of hourly pay over 52 weeks; division by standard paycheck counts. The calculation is covered by automated tests with known reference values and edge cases. Last updated 2026-10-18. Found a problem? Tell us.
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