Raise formulas
New salary = Old salary × (1 + Raise % ÷ 100)
Raise % = (New − Old) ÷ Old × 100
Raise % = (New − Old) ÷ Old × 100
Example: A 5% raise on a $60,000 salary adds $3,000 a year, for a new salary of $63,000. That is $250 more per month and $115.38 more per biweekly paycheck. At 40 hours a week, the hourly rate rises from $28.85 to $30.29.
Negotiating a raise
- Research market pay for your role and city before the conversation.
- List measurable results: revenue, savings, projects shipped.
- Ask for a specific number, slightly above your target.
- If the budget is fixed, negotiate a title, bonus, extra PTO or a review date.
Convert your new salary into hourly and weekly pay with the salary to hourly calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate a raise percentage?
Raise % = (new salary − old salary) ÷ old salary × 100. Going from $60,000 to $66,000 is a $6,000 raise, or 10%.
What is a typical raise in 2026?
U.S. employer surveys project average merit increases of roughly 3–3.5% for 2026. Promotions and job changes typically bring larger jumps, often 10–20%.
How much is a 5% raise on $60,000?
$3,000 a year, bringing the salary to $63,000. That is $250 more a month, about $115 more per biweekly paycheck, or $1.44 more per hour at 40 hours a week.
Does a raise beat inflation?
Subtract inflation from your raise to find the real increase. A 3% raise with 3% inflation leaves your purchasing power unchanged.