Tax year 2026
Raise calculator
Enter your pay now and after the raise. See how much more you take home each paycheck, and what share of the raise you keep.
The raise of $8,000 changes your take-home pay by +$5,232 a year, or +$201.24 a paycheck.
| For the year | Now | After | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $80,000 | $88,000 | +$8,000 |
| Federal income tax | $8,770 | $10,530 | +$1,760 |
| Social Security and Medicare | $6,120 | $6,732 | +$612 |
| State income tax | $3,815 | $4,211 | +$396 |
| Take-home pay | $61,295 | $66,527 | +$5,232 |
| Take-home per paycheck | $2,357.48 | $2,558.72 | +$201.24 |
| Kept of every $100 | $76.62 | $75.60 | −$1.02 |
A raise never lowers your take-home pay through income tax: only the dollars above a bracket line are taxed at the higher rate.
Estimate for tax year 2026. Your real paycheck depends on your W-4, your benefits and your employer's payroll system. This is education, not tax, payroll or financial advice.
How much of a raise do you keep?
A raise is taxed at your highest rates, because it sits on top of the pay you already earn. Someone in the 22% federal bracket pays 22% federal income tax on the raise, 7.65% for Social Security and Medicare, and state and local tax on top, so roughly 60 to 70 cents of each extra dollar reaches the bank.
A raise can never leave you with less take-home pay through income tax. Moving into a higher bracket only changes the rate on the dollars above the line, not on the pay below it.
Questions
Will a raise push me into a higher tax bracket and cost me money?
No. Only the part of your income above the bracket line is taxed at the higher rate. Your take-home pay always rises with a raise.
How do I work out a raise as a percentage?
Divide the increase by your current pay. A raise from $80,000 to $88,000 is $8,000 divided by $80,000, which is 10%. Type either the new salary or the percentage and the other fills in.