A pay raise calculator answers two questions U.S. workers actually search: what is a 5 percent raise on my salary, and what does that look like on an hourly, bi-weekly, or semi-monthly paycheck? This free USA salary increase calculator converts across hourly, weekly, bi-weekly (26), semi-monthly (24), monthly, and annual pay. You can enter a raise percent, a flat dollar increase, or a new pay target, then see yearly increase, real raise versus inflation, and an estimated take-home bump after FICA and taxes.
Run the numbers in the tool above, then use this guide for the formulas, paycheck-schedule traps, and why gross raise is not the same as take-home.
How to use this USA pay raise calculator
- Choose pay frequency the way your employer pays: hourly, weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, monthly, or annual.
- Enter current pay in that frequency.
- Set the raise by percent, flat dollars, or new pay.
- Confirm hours per week and weeks per year (U.S. full-time default: 40 × 52 = 2,080 hours).
Pay raise formulas (percent, new pay, hourly to salary)
New pay from a percentage raise:
New pay = Current pay × (1 + Raise % ÷ 100)Example: $60,000 × 1.05 = $63,000. A 5% raise adds $3,000 a year before tax. To go the other direction:
Raise % = ((New pay − Current pay) ÷ Current pay) × 100Hourly workers annualize with hours and weeks:
Annual = Hourly × Hours/week × Weeks/yearAt $25/hour × 40 × 52 = $52,000 gross. A 10% raise is $27.50/hour and $57,200/year (+$5,200). If you work part-time or overtime every week, change the hours so the salary conversion matches your real schedule.
Bi-weekly vs semi-monthly pay in the USA
The raise percentage does not change with paycheck frequency. The dollars on each check do. Weekly payroll is 52 checks a year. Bi-weekly is every other week (26). Semi-monthly is twice a month on set dates (24), which is common for salaried roles. Monthly is 12. The same annual salary produces a larger bi-weekly check than a semi-monthly check because there are two extra paydays in a typical year. This calculator converts across those U.S. schedules so you are not comparing a 26-pay number to a 24-pay number by accident.
Gross raise vs take-home after FICA and taxes
U.S. employees typically pay FICA 7.65% (Social Security 6.2% plus Medicare 1.45%) on wages, plus federal income tax and any state income tax. A $5,000 gross raise might net closer to $3,000–$3,500 depending on bracket and state. Enter your estimated combined federal plus state marginal rate to model take-home. That estimate is not tax advice and is not a full W-4 paycheck calculator.
Inflation also matters. A 3% raise in a 3% inflation year is roughly a 0% real raise. Use the inflation field in the tool if you want the purchasing-power view, not only the offer-letter percentage.
Pay raise calculator FAQ
How do I calculate a pay raise percentage?
Raise % = ((new pay − current pay) ÷ current pay) × 100. A jump from $60,000 to $63,000 is a 5% raise.
How do I calculate new pay from a raise percent?
New pay = current pay × (1 + raise % ÷ 100). A 5% raise on $60,000 is $63,000.
What is the difference between bi-weekly and semi-monthly pay in the USA?
Bi-weekly means every other week (26 paychecks per year). Semi-monthly means twice a month on set dates (24 paychecks per year). The same annual salary produces different paycheck sizes under each schedule.
How many hours is full-time in the U.S. for salary conversion?
Most U.S. calculators annualize hourly pay with 40 hours per week × 52 weeks = 2,080 hours per year. Adjust hours if you work part-time or overtime regularly.
Will my take-home raise equal my gross raise?
No. Employee FICA is 7.65% (Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45%), and federal plus state income tax also apply. This calculator estimates net raise impact using FICA plus your entered combined tax rate.
For negotiation and paycheck-schedule examples, read How to calculate a pay raise in the USA.