Raise Calculator
A raise never shows up in full on your paycheck. Enter your salary and raise to see what you'll really keep. A 5% raise on $60,000 in Texas, for example, adds $93 to each bi-weekly check.
| Before | After raise | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salary | $60,000 | $63,000 | $3,000 |
| Federal income tax | $5,020 | $5,380 | $360 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $4,590 | $4,820 | $230 |
| State & local | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Take-home pay | $50,390 | $52,801 | $2,411 |
Your raise is taxed at your marginal rate: 12% federal plus 7.65% Social Security and Medicare.
How much of a raise you keep
Extra take-home pay per year in Texas (no state income tax), single filer, 2026.
| Current salary | 3% raise | 5% raise | 10% raise |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $1,205 of $1,500 | $2,009 of $2,500 | $4,018 of $5,000 |
| $60,000 | $1,446 of $1,800 | $2,411 of $3,000 | $4,821 of $6,000 |
| $75,000 | $1,583 of $2,250 | $2,638 of $3,750 | $5,276 of $7,500 |
| $100,000 | $2,111 of $3,000 | $3,518 of $5,000 | $7,035 of $10,000 |
| $150,000 | $3,076 of $4,500 | $5,126 of $7,500 | $10,253 of $15,000 |
Why you don't keep the whole raise
Every extra dollar you earn is taxed at your marginal rate, which is the highest bracket you reach. For a single person earning $60,000, that's 12% federal income tax plus 7.65% for Social Security and Medicare. Move up into the 22% bracket, which starts at about $66,500 in salary, and each new dollar loses nearly 30 cents before state tax even comes into it.
That's also why your raise can feel smaller than a coworker's even if the percentage is the same. Someone in Oregon or California gives up more of each extra dollar than someone in Texas or Florida.
Make more of your raise
One trick worth knowing: if you increase your 401(k) contribution at the same time as a raise, your paycheck can still go up while you save more. Because 401(k) money skips income tax, putting half your raise toward retirement usually costs you less than half of it in take-home pay. Try it by adding a 401(k) percentage in the calculator above.
Frequently asked questions
How much of a raise do you keep after taxes?
Usually 60% to 80% of it. A 5% raise on a $60,000 salary in Texas is $3,000 before tax and about $2,411 after tax, or $93 more per bi-weekly paycheck. In a high-tax state the share you keep is lower.
Can a raise put me in a higher tax bracket and lower my pay?
No. Only the dollars above a bracket threshold are taxed at the higher rate, so a raise increases your take-home pay, just by less than the headline number. The only exceptions are small cliffs where a credit phases out, like the child tax credit above $200,000 ($400,000 married). Our guide to marginal vs. effective tax rates walks through the math.
Why does my raise seem so heavily taxed?
Because the extra money is taxed at your marginal rate, the highest rate you pay, not your average rate. For many people that is 22% federal plus 7.65% for Social Security and Medicare, plus state tax.
What is a good raise in 2026?
Raises of 3% to 4% are typical for staying in the same job. Bigger jumps of 10% or more usually come from a promotion or a new employer. Compare any raise with inflation to see whether your buying power actually went up.