How to calculate a raise
Percentage raise: new pay = current pay × (1 + raise ÷ 100). A 4% raise on $22/hour: $22 × 1.04 = $22.88/hour.
Dollar raise to percentage: raise % = (new pay − old pay) ÷ old pay × 100. Going from $22 to $24 an hour is a $2 raise, or 9.09%.
What is a good raise?
A raise only increases your buying power if it beats inflation. If prices rose 3% over the year, a 3% raise keeps you even; anything above that is a real increase. To judge a raise, compare it with how much prices rose over the same period.
Raise examples
| Current | 3% raise | 5% raise | 10% raise |
|---|---|---|---|
| $18/hr | $18.54/hr | $18.90/hr | $19.80/hr |
| $25/hr | $25.75/hr | $26.25/hr | $27.50/hr |
| $45,000/yr | $46,350/yr | $47,250/yr | $49,500/yr |
| $60,000/yr | $61,800/yr | $63,000/yr | $66,000/yr |
| $80,000/yr | $82,400/yr | $84,000/yr | $88,000/yr |
Want to see your new wage as a salary? Use the hourly to salary calculator.
How much is a 25 cent, 50 cent or $1 an hour raise per year?
An hourly raise adds up over a full year. Working 40 hours a week for 52 weeks is 2,080 hours, so the yearly gain is the raise per hour × 2,080. These figures are before tax:
| Raise per hour | Extra per year | Extra per month | Extra per two-week paycheck |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.25 | $520.00 | $43.33 | $20.00 |
| $0.50 | $1,040.00 | $86.67 | $40.00 |
| $0.75 | $1,560.00 | $130.00 | $60.00 |
| $1.00 | $2,080.00 | $173.33 | $80.00 |
| $1.50 | $3,120.00 | $260.00 | $120.00 |
| $2.00 | $4,160.00 | $346.67 | $160.00 |
| $3.00 | $6,240.00 | $520.00 | $240.00 |
If you work fewer or more hours, enter your own hours in the calculator above.
New hourly wage after a 2% to 5% raise
Find your current hourly wage in the first column to see your new wage after a raise of 2%, 3%, 4% or 5%. Each figure is your wage × (1 + the raise percentage), rounded to the nearest cent:
| Current wage | 2% raise | 3% raise | 4% raise | 5% raise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $12.00 | $12.24 | $12.36 | $12.48 | $12.60 |
| $13.00 | $13.26 | $13.39 | $13.52 | $13.65 |
| $14.00 | $14.28 | $14.42 | $14.56 | $14.70 |
| $15.00 | $15.30 | $15.45 | $15.60 | $15.75 |
| $16.00 | $16.32 | $16.48 | $16.64 | $16.80 |
| $17.00 | $17.34 | $17.51 | $17.68 | $17.85 |
| $18.00 | $18.36 | $18.54 | $18.72 | $18.90 |
| $19.00 | $19.38 | $19.57 | $19.76 | $19.95 |
| $20.00 | $20.40 | $20.60 | $20.80 | $21.00 |
| $21.00 | $21.42 | $21.63 | $21.84 | $22.05 |
| $22.00 | $22.44 | $22.66 | $22.88 | $23.10 |
| $23.00 | $23.46 | $23.69 | $23.92 | $24.15 |
| $24.00 | $24.48 | $24.72 | $24.96 | $25.20 |
| $25.00 | $25.50 | $25.75 | $26.00 | $26.25 |
| $26.00 | $26.52 | $26.78 | $27.04 | $27.30 |
| $27.00 | $27.54 | $27.81 | $28.08 | $28.35 |
| $28.00 | $28.56 | $28.84 | $29.12 | $29.40 |
| $30.00 | $30.60 | $30.90 | $31.20 | $31.50 |
| $32.00 | $32.64 | $32.96 | $33.28 | $33.60 |
| $35.00 | $35.70 | $36.05 | $36.40 | $36.75 |
| $40.00 | $40.80 | $41.20 | $41.60 | $42.00 |
These are pay rates before tax. To see what a raise leaves you after federal tax, Social Security and Medicare, enter your new pay in the paycheck calculator.
The results are calculated from the numbers you enter, and nothing you type is sent to us. This page is general information, not legal, payroll or financial advice.