1% Raise Calculator
A 1% raise is the smallest increase most employers will put in writing. Here is exactly what it adds — and why it is worth about half of nothing once prices are counted.
How much is a 1% raise?
One percent is a token. On a $60,000 salary it is $600 a year, which arrives as roughly $23 in each bi-weekly paycheck and rather less after tax. It is the kind of number that gets described as "something rather than nothing", and in a strict sense that is true — but it is also the number an employer offers when the budget has already been spent elsewhere.
| Current salary | New salary | Raise | Per bi-weekly check | After tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $30,300 | +$300.00 | +$11.54 | $241.05 |
| $40,000 | $40,400 | +$400.00 | +$15.38 | $321.40 |
| $50,000 | $50,500 | +$500.00 | +$19.23 | $401.75 |
| $60,000 | $60,600 | +$600.00 | +$23.08 | $482.10 |
| $75,000 | $75,750 | +$750.00 | +$28.85 | $527.63 |
| $100,000 | $101,000 | +$1,000.00 | +$38.46 | $703.50 |
| $150,000 | $151,500 | +$1,500.00 | +$57.69 | $1,025.25 |
Is a 1% raise good?
Against inflation, a 1% raise is unambiguously a pay cut. Prices have been rising several times faster than that, so a year of 1% leaves you measurably poorer than you were at the last review. It is also far below the roughly 3.5% that US employers budgeted for salary increases in 2026, which means it is not a market-rate outcome — it is a below-market one, and it usually signals either a company under financial pressure or a performance rating you did not know you had.
Against inflation of 3.4% (12 months ending July 2026), a 1% raise is worth −2.32% in real purchasing power — a small real-terms pay cut.
A 1% raise on an hourly wage
The same percentage applied to an hourly rate, at 40 hours a week:
| Current rate | New rate | Extra per hour | Extra per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15.00/hr | $15.15/hr | +$0.15 | +$312.00 |
| $18.00/hr | $18.18/hr | +$0.18 | +$374.40 |
| $20.00/hr | $20.20/hr | +$0.20 | +$416.00 |
| $25.00/hr | $25.25/hr | +$0.25 | +$520.00 |
| $30.00/hr | $30.30/hr | +$0.30 | +$624.00 |
| $40.00/hr | $40.40/hr | +$0.40 | +$832.00 |
What to do with a 1% offer
If you are offered 1%, the useful question is not "can it be more" but "what is this actually telling me". Ask directly whether the figure reflects the company's budget or your rating. Those are different problems with different fixes: a budget problem may be solved by a mid-year review or a title change; a rating problem needs a conversation about expectations and evidence. Either way, get the answer before you decide whether to accept it quietly.
1% raise FAQ
How much is a 1% raise on $60,000?
$600.00 a year, taking your salary to $60,600. That is +$23.08 per bi-weekly paycheck before tax, and about $18.54 after federal income tax and FICA.
Does a 1% raise beat inflation?
No. With CPI at 3.4% over the 12 months ending July 2026, a 1% raise is a real-terms reduction of 2.32% — your salary rises but buys slightly less than before.
How much of a 1% raise do I keep after tax?
On a $60,000 salary, about $482.10 of the $600.00 — roughly 80%. The rest goes to federal income tax and to Social Security and Medicare at 7.65%. State income tax reduces it further where it applies.
Is a 1% raise an insult?
It is usually a signal rather than an insult. Companies that can afford market increases rarely offer 1% to people they want to keep. Treat it as information about either the budget or your standing, and find out which before reacting.
Should I accept a 1% raise?
You will normally have to accept it in the short term — refusing a raise does not produce a bigger one. What you can do is set a date to revisit it, ask what specifically would justify more, and quietly check what your role pays elsewhere.
Other raise percentages
- 1.5% raise
- 2% raise
- 2.5% raise
- 3% raise
- 3.5% raise
- 4% raise
- 4.5% raise
- 5% raise
- 6% raise
- 7% raise
- 8% raise
- 10% raise
- 15% raise
- 20% raise
Related calculators
- Pay Raise CalculatorAny percentage, any pay period.
- Raise After TaxesWhat you keep, by filing status and state.
- Cost of Living RaiseYour raise against inflation.
- Salary Over Time1% raises compounded over 10 years.
Estimates are for planning only. This is not tax, legal or financial advice.