How the math works
Your raise percent is the difference between your new pay and your old pay, divided by your old pay. Going from $50,000 to $52,000 is a $2,000 raise, and $2,000 ÷ $50,000 = 4%.
For hourly pay, the calculator turns your rate into a yearly number by multiplying it by your hours per week and by 52 weeks. At 40 hours a week that's 2,080 hours a year, so a $1 an hour raise is worth $2,080 a year before taxes.
Every number here is before taxes. Your take-home increase will be smaller once federal, state and payroll taxes come out.
Common questions
How much is a 3% raise on $50,000?
$1,500 a year. That's $125 a month, about $57.69 per paycheck if you're paid every two weeks, and about 72 cents an hour at 40 hours a week.
What is a "real" raise?
It's your raise after inflation. If you get 3% but prices went up 4%, your paycheck buys less than it did last year, even though the number went up. Add the inflation rate above and the calculator shows your raise in buying power.
Will a raise push me into a higher tax bracket and shrink my take-home?
No. Federal income tax brackets are marginal: only the dollars above a bracket's starting point are taxed at the higher rate. A raise always leaves you with more take-home pay than before, even if part of it lands in a higher bracket.
How do I ask for a bigger raise?
Bring numbers. Know what your raise is worth per year (this calculator), what people in your role are paid in your area, and two or three specific wins from the past year. Ask for a number, not "more."