Pay Raise Calculator

See exactly how much more you'll take home after a pay raise, accounting for taxes. Know your real monthly gain before you negotiate.

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How a pay raise actually affects your take-home pay

A 10% raise sounds significant, but taxes mean you won't see 10% more in your bank account. This calculator estimates your real monthly take-home increase after accounting for your effective tax rate, giving you a realistic picture of what the raise means day-to-day.

Note: the US tax system is marginal, meaning only income above each tax bracket threshold is taxed at the higher rate. A raise that bumps you into a higher bracket only taxes the additional income at the higher rate — your existing income stays at its current rate.

What tax rate to use

Your effective tax rate (total taxes ÷ gross income) is the most accurate number to use here. For a rough estimate: if your combined federal + state income tax is about 22–28%, use that. Your W-2 or last year's tax return will show this. If you have pre-tax 401(k) contributions, your effective rate on the raise may be lower.

Negotiating a raise

Research shows that employees who negotiate earn, on average, $5,000–$10,000 more at job offer time. Know your market rate (Glassdoor, Levels.fyi, LinkedIn Salary) before any negotiation conversation. Raises are also compounding — a higher base salary today means all future raises and bonuses are calculated on a larger number.