What a raise is worth
A percentage raise multiplies current pay by one plus the percentage; a dollar raise adds to it. The calculator handles both, on an hourly or annual basis, and converts hourly pay to a yearly figure using your hours per week times 52. The gross increase is then split into monthly and biweekly amounts.
Worked example (pre-filled). A 4% raise on a $55,000 salary makes it $57,200.00, an extra $2,200.00 a year or $84.62 per biweekly paycheck before tax. After federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Georgia income tax on a single filer's paycheck with no deductions, the paycheck grows by about $63.77, roughly 75% of the gross increase.
The after-tax line uses the same 2026 withholding engine as the Georgia paycheck calculator (IRS Publication 15-T and the Georgia DOR June 2026 tables) with a single W-4, G-4 status A and no deductions (IRS Pub. 15-T; GA DOR guide). Your own W-4, G-4 and 401(k) settings change it; run the raised salary through the full calculator for a precise figure. A raise never leaves you with less take-home: US and Georgia tax brackets are marginal, so only the new dollars are taxed at the higher rate. This page computes; it does not recommend a loan, lender, investment or tax position.
Formula and assumptions
annual (hourly pay) = rate × hours per week × 52
per paycheck = annual increase ÷ 26
after-tax change = take-home(new salary) − take-home(old salary), biweekly, single, G-4 A, no deductions
- The after-tax figure is an estimate under stated assumptions, not your exact paycheck.
- 2026 withholding rules; hourly pay assumes 52 paid weeks and no overtime.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a 4% raise on $55,000?
$2,200 a year, making the salary $57,200. Per biweekly paycheck that is $84.62 before tax.
How much is a $1 an hour raise per year?
$2,080 a year at 40 hours a week for 52 weeks, or $80 per biweekly paycheck before tax.
Can a raise push me into a higher tax bracket and lower my take-home?
No. Only the income above each bracket threshold is taxed at the higher rate, so more gross pay always means more take-home pay.
How do I calculate the percentage of a raise?
Divide the increase by the old pay and multiply by 100. A $2,200 raise on $55,000 is 4%. The percentage change calculator does this.
Related calculators
- All loans & money calculators
- Percentage change calculator: Percent increase or decrease between two numbers, plus percent-of
- Salary to hourly calculator: Convert a salary to an hourly rate and back, with weekly, biweekly and monthly pay
- 401(k) paycheck calculator: How a pre-tax 401(k) percentage changes your Georgia take-home pay
- Georgia paycheck calculator: take-home pay after federal, FICA and Georgia tax
- Federal withholding and the W-4
- Georgia income tax rate 2026
Sources
- IRS Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods
- Georgia Department of Revenue, Employer’s Withholding Tax Guide 2026 (revised June 2026)
- IRS Publication 15 (2026), Employer’s Tax Guide (Circular E)
This calculator gives general estimates from the figures you enter. It is not tax, legal, payroll or financial advice. See our disclaimer.