Pay Raise Calculator

Quickly calculate how a pay increase will impact salaries with our Pay Raise Calculator. Just enter an employee’s current pay and raise percentage (or fixed increase) and instantly see the new annual, monthly, and weekly salary.

This tool helps business owners and managers plan raises responsibly—without guesswork or miscalculations.

Pay Raise Calculator - header image

How to Use the Pay Raise Calculator

1. Enter Employee Pay Details

Fill in one or more of the following fields to set the employee’s current salary details:

  • Hours per Week – Default is 40 hours, but adjust if needed.
  • Hourly Rate ($) – Enter the current hourly wage.
  • Weekly Income ($) – Input total weekly earnings.
  • Monthly Income ($) – Enter the employee’s monthly salary.
  • Annual Salary ($) – Provide their yearly salary.

The calculator automatically updates all related fields as you enter values.

2. Set the Raise Amount

  • Enter a raise percentage (e.g., 5%) OR
  • Input a fixed-dollar raise per hour (e.g., +$2/hour).

The calculator will instantly show the new salary figures.

3. View the Updated Salary Breakdown

Once the raise is applied, you’ll see:

  • New Annual Salary
  • Annual Increase Amount
  • New Monthly Salary
  • New Weekly Salary

4. Adjust and Compare Different Scenarios

Want to test different salary increase options? Adjust any input and the calculator updates in real-time.
This tool helps businesses budget for raises, forecast labor costs, and ensure fair compensation for employees.

Pay Rise Calculator

Your Current Salary

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Current Annual Salary

Your New Salary

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New Annual Salary

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Annual Increase Amount

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New Monthly Salary

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New Weekly Salary

How to Decide on the Right Pay Raise

Deciding on raises isn’t just about picking a number and calling it a day. You need to find the balance between keeping employees happy, staying competitive, and making sure your business can actually afford it. Here’s how to do it right.

Percentage vs. Fixed-Dollar Raises—Which One Makes Sense?

There are two main ways to give a raise:

Percentage-Based Raises

This is the go-to for salaried employees. Raises are based on a percentage of their current pay, so everyone gets an increase relative to their existing salary.

Example:

  • A 5% raise on a $50,000 salary = $2,500 per year
  • A 5% raise on a $30/hour wage = +$1.50 per hour

When to use it:

  • For annual raises or cost-of-living adjustments
  • To keep salary increases proportional across different pay levels

Fixed-Dollar Raises

Instead of a percentage, you increase pay by a set amount—like adding $1/hour for all hourly workers or giving every employee a $2,000 raise.

When to use it:

  • For hourly workers, to keep things simple
  • When adjusting wages to match industry standards

Both methods work, but the right one depends on how your team is structured and your budget.

What to Consider Before Giving a Raise

Raises aren’t just about rewarding hard work—they need to be sustainable and competitive. Here’s what to factor in before making a decision:

Can Your Business Afford It?

Raises aren’t a one-time cost. Once you increase pay, it’s part of your payroll going forward. Double-check your budget to make sure it’s sustainable.

Is the Raise Based on Performance or Market Trends?

Some companies give annual raises no matter what, while others base them on performance, tenure, or company profits. Decide what makes sense for your business.

Are You Paying Competitively?

Employees talk, and if they realize competitors are paying more, they might leave. Make sure your pay stays in line with industry standards.

How Does Inflation Impact Wages?

If inflation is high, a 3% raise might not feel like much. Consider adjusting raises to actually improve take-home pay rather than just keeping up with inflation.

How to Implement Pay Raises the Right Way

A raise means more when it’s done well. Here’s how to roll out salary increases in a way that keeps employees engaged and your business on track:

  • Be Transparent – Employees should understand how raises are determined and what they can do to earn one.
  • Plan Ahead – Use this calculator to make sure your numbers work before committing.
  • Communicate Clearly – Don’t just update paychecks—explain the raise and what it’s based on.
  • Recognize Hard Work – Raises should feel like a reward, not an expectation. Tie them to real performance and contributions.
  • Keep It Fair – Make sure raises are based on clear criteria—not just who asks for one.

Manage Pay, Scheduling, and Workforce Operations with Connecteam

Giving raises is just one part of running a smooth, well-managed business. If you’re looking for an easier way to handle payroll, track employee hours, and manage your team, Connecteam has everything you need in one app.

✅ Track Employee Hours Accurately

Before deciding on raises, you need to know exactly how many hours your employees work. With Connecteam’s time clock, employees can clock in and out from their mobile devices, and you get real-time tracking of work hours, breaks, and overtime. No more guessing or manual calculations.

An illustration showing Connecteam’s time clock interface

📅 Simplify Employee Scheduling

Got a growing team? Connecteam’s scheduling feature makes it easy to assign shifts, set up recurring schedules, and notify employees of changes instantly. You can also prevent unnecessary overtime by keeping track of employee hours in real-time.

💰 Streamline Payroll and Pay Raises

Tired of messy payroll calculations? With Connecteam, you can automatically export accurate timesheets to your payroll provider, reducing errors and saving hours of admin work. This means your team always gets paid correctly and on time—including any raises you implement.

Connecteam's time clock feature manager view

💬 Keep Employees in the Loop

A pay raise is a big deal, and communicating it well matters. Connecteam’s communication tools let you send updates, share pay adjustment notices, and keep an open line for questions—all in one place.

Connecteam gives you everything you need to manage your workforce more efficiently—so you can focus on growing your business, not drowning in admin.

Ready to simplify payroll, scheduling, and workforce management?

Try Connecteam for free today!

FAQs

A percentage-based raise (e.g., a 5% increase) is best for salaried employees since it keeps wages proportional to their existing pay. A fixed-dollar raise (e.g., an extra $1/hour) works well for hourly employees, especially when adjusting for minimum wage increases or market rates. Consider your budget, industry standards, and employee contributions when choosing the right method.

Most businesses give raises annually during performance reviews, but this depends on your industry, company finances, and employee performance. Some businesses also offer cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) to keep up with inflation.

A standard raise is 3-5% per year, but it varies by industry, job role, and economic conditions. Competitive industries may offer higher raises (5-10%) to retain top talent, while cost-of-living raises typically match inflation rates. Researching industry benchmarks and using tools like this calculator can help ensure fair and competitive raises.

Evaluating different pay raise scenarios manually can be time-consuming and prone to errors.

  • Each raise percentage affects not only individual salaries but also the company’s overall payroll expenses.
  • Adjusting different raise levels across employees helps you balance rewarding top performers while maintaining budget control.
  • Looking at short-term and long-term impacts ensures you make sustainable compensation decisions.

A pay raise calculator streamlines this process by letting you input multiple salary figures and raise percentages to see instant results, making it easier to compare and adjust decisions efficiently.

Timing raises strategically helps maintain employee satisfaction and financial stability.

  • Raises are commonly given annually, often during performance reviews or end-of-year evaluations.
  • Mid-year raises may be appropriate for promotions, retention strategies, or exceptional performance beyond expectations.
  • In competitive industries, regular market-based salary adjustments help prevent turnover and attract top talent.
  • Cost-of-living increases may be necessary during inflation spikes to keep salaries aligned with economic conditions.

By using a pay raise calculator, you can easily assess different timing scenarios and understand their financial impact before making a decision.

This depends on your company culture. Some businesses transparently share pay raise policies, while others keep salary changes private to avoid conflicts. Whatever approach you take, be clear about how raises are determined and ensure employees understand how they can grow within your company. Connecteam’s internal communication tools make it easy to share updates and expectations with your team.