Salary raise calculator
Raise percentage from a new salary, or the new salary from a percentage.
Fill in the fields and the result will appear here automatically.
The two directions matter because negotiations run in percentages while decisions are made in money. Given the new figure, the calculator returns the percentage; given the percentage, it returns the figure. Both show the difference in currency alongside, which is the number that actually changes anything: ten per cent on a small salary and three per cent on a large one can be the same amount of money. A decrease is shown honestly as a negative percentage rather than hidden as zero — the arithmetic works the same in both directions, and pretending otherwise would misdescribe what happened.
How it works
Formula and logic
Percentage = (new ÷ previous − 1) × 100. The reverse gives new = previous × (1 + percentage ÷ 100). Positive amounts must use the same period and tax basis. Percentage mode requires a value strictly above −100%; new-amount mode ignores the hidden percentage. Inflation and taxes are not deducted automatically. Equal salaries give zero change and zero difference.
Example
Going from 120,000 to 148,000 is a 23.33% raise and 28,000 more a month. A decrease from 100 to 50 means −50% and difference −50; equal amounts 100 and 100 give 0%. Percentage −100% is rejected because this model requires positive new salary.
Fields and units
- What is known — list option
- Previous salary — $
- New salary — $
- Raise, % — unitless
How to use
- — Choose whether you know the new salary or the percentage.
- — Enter the previous salary.
- — Enter either the new salary or the raise percentage.
- — Compare offers on the difference in money, not on the percentage alone.
Method and limitations
- Calculation method
- Formula and logic
- Limitation
- This shows nominal change between amounts on the same basis. Taxes, inflation, currency conversion, working-time changes and entitlement to a raise are not determined.
FAQ
Should the percentage be taken from gross or net pay?
Either gross or net can be used, but both salaries must share the same period and basis. The calculator does not convert gross to net; changes in deductions can give take-home pay a different percentage change.
Does this account for inflation?
No. A five per cent raise during eight per cent inflation is a pay cut in real terms, and comparing the two figures is a separate calculation.
Why is a decrease shown as a negative percentage?
Because it is one. Clamping it to zero would hide the direction of the change, and the arithmetic behaves identically either way.
Why show the difference in money as well?
Because percentages hide the base. Three per cent on a large salary can beat ten per cent on a small one, and only the money column makes that visible.