Salary Raise Calculator
Calculate your new salary after a raise, the raise amount, and how long to negotiate for more.
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How to use this calculator
The raise amount can be specified as a percentage or fixed dollar amount. The real raise subtracts inflation to show purchasing power change. Monthly and hourly increases help translate the raise into day-to-day terms.
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Enter your current annual salary and whether your raise is a percentage or fixed dollar amount.
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Input the raise percentage or amount your employer has offered.
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Add the current inflation rate to see whether your raise represents a real increase in purchasing power.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average salary raise percentage?
Average merit increases in the United States typically range from 3–5% per year. High performers may receive 7–10% or more. Cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) are usually 2–4% and are separate from merit raises. In high-inflation periods, a raise below the inflation rate effectively reduces your real wages.
How do I negotiate a higher raise?
Research market salary data using sources like Glassdoor, LinkedIn Salary, or the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Document your accomplishments with measurable outcomes (revenue generated, costs saved, projects delivered). Request a meeting, present your case confidently, and ask for a specific number 10–20% above your target to leave negotiation room.
When should I ask for a raise?
Best times to ask include after a strong performance review, after completing a major project, when you have taken on significantly more responsibility, or when you have a competing offer. Avoid asking during company layoffs or financial downturns. Many companies have formal raise cycles — find out when yours is and prepare well in advance.
Salary Raise Calculator — New Pay, Real Raise & Inflation Impact
Is Your Raise Keeping Up With Inflation?
A 3% raise sounds positive, but if inflation is running at 4%, your purchasing power has actually decreased by 1%. The real raise — your nominal raise percentage minus the inflation rate — tells you whether your pay is genuinely going up in terms of what you can buy. This calculator makes that comparison instant. When negotiating, factor in inflation and aim for a raise that meaningfully exceeds it, especially in high-inflation environments where even a 5% raise may feel insufficient after groceries, rent, and fuel costs are factored in.
How to Use Your Raise to Maximize Wealth
When you receive a raise, resist the urge to immediately increase all spending (lifestyle inflation). Instead, direct at least half of the net after-tax increase toward savings, retirement contributions, or debt repayment. Even $200/month more into a retirement account at a 7% annual return grows to over $120,000 in 20 years. Small raises, consistently invested, compound into significant wealth. Use the monthly and hourly increase figures to make concrete decisions about where the extra money should go.
Salary raise: how it works
This free tool saves time and reduces the chance of manual errors. Enter your values, get an instant result, and use it as a starting point for further analysis or professional consultation.
Who uses this tool?
Anyone who needs a fast, reliable answer uses this tool as a first step. It is designed to be accessible to non-specialists while accurate enough to trust for most everyday purposes.
Learn more from an authoritative source:
U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsSalary to Hourly Calculator
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Results are estimates for informational purposes only and do not constitute professional financial, medical, legal, or technical advice. Read full disclaimer →