How to Use the Raise Calculator
Follow the form from top to bottom. Use gross pay for the period you select, then provide one type of raise input.
- Enter Current pay amount ($) as your gross pay for the selected period.
- Select Pay period: Hourly, Weekly, Biweekly (every 2 weeks), Monthly, or Annual / yearly.
- Fill in either Raise percentage (%, optional) or Raise dollar amount ($, optional). Leave the other field blank.
- Click Calculate.
- Review the result. Use Copy result for the plain-text summary or Download result (.txt) to download it.
- Click Reset to clear all inputs, restore Annual / yearly, hide errors, and hide the result.
What the Result Shows
After a successful calculation, the result section shows new pay, raise amount, and raise percentage for the selected period. For any non-annual period, the summary statistics also show new pay as an annual equivalent. The assumptions table lists annual equivalents for current pay, raise amount, and new pay, along with the formula and intermediate values.
Copy result copies the plain-text summary when clipboard access succeeds. Download result (.txt) downloads the same summary as raise-calculator-result.txt.
Formulas and Annualization Assumptions
When you enter a percentage, the calculator uses Raise amount = Current pay x (Raise % / 100), then New pay = Current pay + Raise amount. When you enter a dollar amount, it calculates Raise % = (Raise amount / Current pay) x 100, then uses the same new-pay formula.
- Hourly:
2,080hours per year - Weekly:
52periods per year - Biweekly:
26periods per year - Monthly:
12periods per year - Annual / yearly:
1period per year
The hourly convention is based on 40 hours per week for 52 weeks. It may overstate annual pay for part-time work or unpaid leave, and may understate earnings when paid hours exceed 2,080, including overtime. Money and percentage values are displayed to two decimal places.
Validation, Copying, and Calculation Limits
Current pay and a valid pay period are required. Enter exactly one raise value, and make sure it is a number greater than 0. An invalid calculation shows a specific error and hides the result section. If copying fails, the interface displays "Could not copy - select and copy manually."
The calculation uses gross pay before taxes. It does not model income tax, payroll tax, benefit deductions, bonuses, overtime, or an actual pay stub. It does not fetch live wage data, payroll records, or account information; it uses the values entered into the calculator. Calculator inputs are used for the local raise calculation; this page also loads analytics scripts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I enter a raise percentage or a raise dollar amount?
Enter whichever one you were given. If your employer told you a percentage (for example, a 4% raise), use the percentage field. If they told you a flat dollar increase (for example, an extra $2,000 a year), use the dollar amount field. The calculator converts one into the other automatically and only accepts one of the two at a time.
What pay period should I use?
Use whatever period your current pay figure represents - hourly, weekly, biweekly, monthly, or annual. The raise percentage and dollar amount are applied in that same period. The calculator also shows an annualized equivalent so you can compare figures given in different periods.
How is the annual equivalent calculated for hourly pay?
It assumes a standard 2,080 hours per year, based on 40 hours a week for 52 weeks. This may overstate annual pay for part-time work or unpaid leave, and may understate earnings when paid hours exceed 2,080, including overtime.
Does this calculator account for taxes on my raise?
No. It calculates gross pay before taxes and withholding. Your actual take-home increase will be smaller once income tax, payroll tax, and any benefit deductions are applied.
Does this calculator pull my real payroll or salary data?
No. It only uses the current pay amount, pay period, and raise percentage or dollar amount you type in. It does not fetch live payroll records, wage data, or account information, and it is not personalized financial advice.