How do I calculate my pay increase?

Asked by: Mr. Monserrat Green Sr.  |  Last update: January 31, 2026
Score: 4.4/5 (6 votes)

To calculate a pay increase, find the dollar amount by multiplying your current salary by the raise percentage (as a decimal), then add it to your old salary; or, use the quick formula: New Salary = Current Salary × (1 + Raise Percentage as Decimal), like $50,000 x 1.04 for a 4% raise. To find the percentage increase, use: (New Salary - Old Salary) ÷ Old Salary × 100.

How do you calculate your pay increase?

Calculating a raise as a percentage of an employee's salary is as simple as these steps:

  1. Convert the percent increase to a decimal number.
  2. Multiply the decimal amount by the current salary.
  3. Add the result to the old salary.

How much is a 5% raise on $20 an hour?

A 5% raise on $20 an hour adds $1 to your hourly wage, making your new rate $21 per hour, calculated by finding 5% of $20 ($1) and adding it to the original $20, or by multiplying $20 by 1.05. 

What is the formula to calculate increase?

To calculate the percentage increase between two numbers, we use the formula, Percentage Increase = [(Final Value - Initial Value)/Initial Value] × 100.

How much is a 3% raise on $20 an hour?

A 3% raise on $20 an hour adds $0.60 to your pay, making your new hourly wage $20.60. You calculate this by finding 3% of $20 (which is $0.60) and adding it to your original $20. 

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41 related questions found

Is $1 more an hour a good raise?

A $1 per hour raise directly increases your take-home pay. For someone working 40 hours a week, this adds an extra $40 per week, or about $2,080 annually, before taxes. This can help you meet financial goals like saving or paying off debt faster in your current job.

How to calculate 3% pay rise?

How do I calculate a pay raise on my own?

  1. Convert the percentage into decimal form.
  2. Multiply the old salary by this value.
  3. Add this new value to the old salary.

How to calculate percentage increase in your salary?

To calculate your salary hike percentage, subtract your old salary from your new salary, then divide that difference by your old salary, and finally, multiply the result by 100, giving you the formula: [(New Salary - Old Salary) / Old Salary] x 100. 

What are common mistakes when calculating percent increase?

Here are some common mistakes:

  • Mixing up the original value and the new value.
  • Forgetting to divide by the original value, which is necessary for the calculation.

How to calculate percentage increase with a calculator?

  1. Find the difference: New Value - Original Value.
  2. Divide by the original value: Difference ÷ Original Value.
  3. Multiply by 100 to get the percentage.

Is a 20% pay raise reasonable?

Yes, a 20% salary increase is generally considered a significant and excellent raise, often seen as reasonable for a major promotion, taking on substantial new responsibilities, or if you're significantly underpaid, though typical annual raises are much smaller (3-5%). Its reasonableness depends heavily on context, requiring strong justification like exceptional performance, a significant role change (e.g., more travel), or market adjustments for your skills. 

What is $100,000 a year hourly?

$100,000 a year is approximately $48.08 per hour, calculated by dividing the annual salary by 2,080 working hours (40 hours/week multiplied by 52 weeks/year). This standard calculation assumes a full-time schedule, but the exact hourly rate changes if you work more or fewer hours, such as around $38.46/hour for a 50-hour week or $64.10/hour for a 30-hour week. 

How much do you make if you get paid $20 an hour?

A $20/hour salary equals about $41,600 annually (before taxes) for a 40-hour week, roughly $800 weekly or $3,467 monthly, but actual take-home pay depends heavily on taxes, deductions, and location, with median salaries varying slightly by region and job. 

Is a 5% raise really a raise?

Yes, a 5% raise is generally considered a good raise, often above the average merit increase (around 3-4%) and a solid step up, especially if it keeps pace with or beats inflation; it's a real increase, but whether it feels significant depends on your current salary, inflation rates, and company norms, with promotions offering larger jumps. 

What is a 5% raise on $20 an hour?

A 5% raise on $20 an hour adds $1 to your hourly wage, making your new rate $21 per hour, calculated by finding 5% of $20 ($1) and adding it to the original $20, or by multiplying $20 by 1.05. 

What is the easiest way to calculate percentage increase?

To the find the percent increase, first subtract the initial value from the final value. Then take the difference and divide it by the initial value. Finally, multiply this number by 100% to convert the number to a percentage.

What is the easiest trick to calculate percentage?

Using Fractions to Simplify Percentages

Percentages are essentially fractions of 100, so some common fractions can make percentage calculations easier. For example: 50% is 1/2. So, 50% of 200 is 200 / 2 = 100.

What is 40% decreased by 15%?

Answer and Explanation:

After being decreased by 15%, 40 becomes 34. This means that 34 is 15% less than 40.

How do I calculate my pay raise?

It's calculated by comparing the difference between the old and new salary against the original salary.

  1. Formula: (New Salary – Old Salary) ÷ Old Salary × 100 = Salary Increase Percentage.
  2. Example: If an employee's annual salary rises from $50,000 to $52,000: ($52,000 – $50,000) ÷ $50,000 × 100 = 4% increase.

What are common mistakes when calculating increase?

Confusing the Original Number (The Base)

One of the most frequent errors is dividing by the wrong number. The percentage change must always be calculated by dividing the difference by the original number (the value you started with).

What is a 3% raise on $50,000?

A 3% raise on $50,000 is an extra $1,500 per year, making your new annual salary $51,500, calculated by multiplying $50,000 by 0.03 (which equals $1,500) and then adding that to the original salary. 

What is a 3% raise on $20 an hour?

A 3% raise on $20 an hour adds $0.60 to your hourly wage, making your new rate $20.60 per hour, calculated by multiplying $20 by 0.03 to find the raise amount ($0.60) and then adding it to your original pay. 

What is a normal salary increase per year?

The average annual salary increase in the US is typically around 3% to 5%, often aligning with inflation, with employers budgeting roughly 3.2% for 2026, though actual figures vary significantly by performance, industry, location, and economic conditions. High-performers or those changing roles can see much larger jumps, while cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) usually sit at the lower end of that range (2-3%).
 

How much should my salary increase to keep up with inflation?

To keep pace with inflation, your salary should ideally increase by the current inflation rate (around 2-4% or higher depending on the period) plus any merit for performance, typically aiming for a 3% to 5% raise for cost-of-living, but potentially higher (6-10%+) in high-demand fields or for significant performance, as standard increases often lag actual price increases. Check your region's Consumer Price Index (CPI) and industry salary data for a precise figure, as a 3% raise may not cover substantial inflation, requiring a larger request to maintain purchasing power.