Calculate exactly how much more money you'll make after your raise. See your new salary, monthly increase, and take-home pay bump.
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A mid-level software engineer in Austin, TX is comparing a $130,000 W-2 offer against their current $115,000 role. The new offer includes a $10,000 signing bonus and 0.1% equity in a Series B company.
Takeaway: Texas has no state income tax, which inflates take-home vs. the same offer in California (~9.3% marginal) or New York (~6.85%). Run the comparison with your state's rate above.
Take-home calculators estimate withholding based on single/married status and claimed allowances. If you have side income, multiple jobs, or itemized deductions, your actual withholding will differ. The IRS Tax Withholding Estimator is the most accurate tool for W-4 calibration.
Nine states have no income tax (TX, FL, WA, NV, AK, SD, WY, TN, NH). California tops out at 13.3% marginal. State tax can shift your net paycheck by $200-$1,000/month on a $100K salary. Always select your state before reading take-home results.
Cost of Living Salary AdjustmentEmployer-paid health insurance, 401(k) match, HSA contributions, and paid leave have real dollar value — typically $8,000-$25,000/year for a mid-career employee. Comparing two offers on base salary alone ignores a major component of total compensation.
Benefits Value CalculatorW-2 employees pay 7.65% FICA (SS + Medicare); employers match it invisibly. 1099 contractors pay the full 15.3% self-employment tax. A $100K 1099 contract has roughly $7,650 more tax friction than a $100K W-2 salary before any other adjustments.
1099 vs W-2 Tax ComparisonBonuses are withheld at a flat 22% federal supplemental rate (or 37% over $1M) — not your effective rate. Your actual tax on the bonus is determined at year-end filing. If your marginal rate is below 22%, you'll get a refund; above, you may owe.
Bonus Tax CalculatorBased on your inputs
+$3,250 (+5.00%)
| Raise Amount | $3,250 (+5.00%) |
|---|---|
| New Annual Salary | $68,250 |
| Monthly Increase (gross) | +$270.83 |
| Biweekly Increase (gross) | +$125 |
| Annual After-Tax Increase | +$2,437.5 |
| Monthly After-Tax Increase | +$203.13 |
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Dollar Raise = Current Salary × (Raise% ÷ 100). A 5% raise on $60,000 = $3,000 more per year.
A cost-of-living raise is 2-3%. A merit raise is 4-6%. A strong performance raise is 8-12%. A promotion raise is 10-20%.
Biweekly raise increase = Annual Raise ÷ 26. A $5,000 annual raise adds about $192 per biweekly paycheck before taxes.
You'll keep roughly 70-75% of your raise after federal and state taxes. A $5,000 raise nets about $3,500-3,750 in additional take-home pay.
Subtract your old salary from your new salary, divide by your old salary, and multiply by 100. Going from $55,000 to $60,000 is a 9.1 percent raise calculated as 5,000 divided by 55,000.
Most companies conduct annual reviews where raises are discussed. If your company lacks formal reviews, request a compensation conversation every 12 to 18 months, especially after completing major projects.
A cost-of-living raise matches inflation at 2 to 3 percent to maintain purchasing power. A merit raise of 4 to 8 percent rewards individual performance and contribution beyond basic expectations.
Raises compound because each new raise is calculated on a higher base. A 3 percent annual raise on $60,000 grows to $80,635 after 10 years, adding $20,635 total rather than just $18,000 from simple addition.
A raise is almost always more valuable long-term because it compounds annually and increases future raises, retirement contributions, and Social Security benefits. A $3,000 raise outpaces a $5,000 bonus within two years.
Prepare market salary data from Glassdoor or Payscale, a list of your accomplishments and measurable results, any expanded responsibilities, and comparable offers or industry benchmarks for your role and experience level.
New Salary = Current Salary × (1 + Raise%)
Monthly Increase = Annual Raise ÷ 12
Biweekly Increase = Annual Raise ÷ 26
Every formula on this page traces to a federal agency, central bank, or peer-reviewed institution. We cite the rule-makers, not secondhand blogs.
Found an error in a formula or source? Report it →
Result: +$2,880 gross · +$2,189 net · $91/biweekly
BLS Employment Cost Index shows 2024 private industry wages grew 3.6-4.0%. Below 4% means you're losing ground to inflation (CPI-U ran ~3.2% 2024).
Result: +$16,200 gross · +$11,826 net · $1,350/mo
Radford/Levels.fyi shows L3→L4 median step = 10-15%. CO flat 4.4% state tax + 24% fed bracket. Compounded, this adds ~$195k to lifetime earnings over 20 yrs at 3% annual raises.
Result: +$1,450 gross; real purchasing power DOWN 0.7%
BLS CPI-U averaged 3.2% in 2024. A 2.5% raise is a real-terms pay cut of ~0.7% — effectively $406 of lost purchasing power.
Result: +$7,600 gross · +$5,700 net · $146/week
SHRM data shows counter-offers average 5-10% when employees bring outside offers. Accepting counters has 50%+ 12-month attrition (BLS JOLTS turnover data).
Result: +$2,460 gross · +$1,870 net · $205/mo
Phoenix 2024 CPI ran ~4.1% per BLS regional data — a 3% raise lags local inflation. Better benchmark is city CPI, not national.
Result: +$3,146/yr gross (2024 OPM schedule)
OPM General Schedule pay tables publish annual steps. GS-12 Step 5→6 = $95,320 → $98,466 (Rest of US). Locality pay adds 16-45% depending on metro.
Compare raise % to BLS CPI-U and ECI (Employment Cost Index). 3% raise in 3.5% inflation = pay cut.
Impact: A $75k earner gaining 3% while CPI runs 4% loses $750/yr in real purchasing power.
Employer match is % of salary. A $5k raise with 5% match adds $250/yr of employer contributions.
Impact: Over 20 years at 7% return, that extra match compounds to ~$10,900 extra retirement wealth.
A raise can push income into a higher marginal bracket (e.g. 24%→32% at $191,950 in 2024).
Impact: A $10k raise crossing the 32% threshold nets only $6,800 vs $7,600 fully below threshold — $800 lost.
SHRM + Gartner research: 50-80% of counter-accepters leave within 12 months.
Impact: Short-term $10k counter-raise often follows with layoff or promotion freeze next cycle.
A $5k raise compounds with future raises + 401k match; a $5k bonus is one-time.
Impact: Over 10 years at 3% raises, a $5k raise is worth ~$57k cumulative vs $5k one-time — 11× more.
Relocating from TX (0% state) to CA (9.3%+) to get a 10% raise may net less.
Impact: A $100k→$110k move TX→CA nets LESS take-home after CA state tax + SDI — -$2,400/yr real.
Calculations are for educational purposes only. Consult a qualified financial advisor for personalized advice.