2% Raise Calculator
A 2% raise on your salary: the dollar amount, the per-paycheck increase, and what it is worth after inflation.
How much is a 2% raise?
Two percent is the most common "low" raise in the US, and the one people most often talk themselves into accepting. On $60,000 it is $1,200 a year, or about $46 per bi-weekly paycheck before tax. That is a real, visible amount of money — enough to feel like something happened, which is precisely why it works as an offer.
| Current salary | New salary | Raise | Per bi-weekly check | After tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $30,600 | +$600.00 | +$23.08 | $482.10 |
| $40,000 | $40,800 | +$800.00 | +$30.77 | $642.80 |
| $50,000 | $51,000 | +$1,000.00 | +$38.46 | $803.50 |
| $60,000 | $61,200 | +$1,200.00 | +$46.15 | $964.20 |
| $75,000 | $76,500 | +$1,500.00 | +$57.69 | $1,055.25 |
| $100,000 | $102,000 | +$2,000.00 | +$76.92 | $1,407 |
| $150,000 | $153,000 | +$3,000.00 | +$115.38 | $2,050.50 |
Is a 2% raise good?
The problem is the comparison. Employers budgeted roughly 3.5% for 2026 salary increases, and consumer prices rose faster than 2% as well. A 2% raise therefore sits below both the market and the price level: you are being paid less relative to your peers than you were last year, and your salary buys slightly less than it did. Neither of those is visible on the payslip, which is why the arithmetic matters.
Against inflation of 3.4% (12 months ending July 2026), a 2% raise is worth −1.35% in real purchasing power — a small real-terms pay cut.
A 2% 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 | $15.30/hr | +$0.30 | +$624.00 |
| $18.00/hr | $18.36/hr | +$0.36 | +$748.80 |
| $20.00/hr | $20.40/hr | +$0.40 | +$832.00 |
| $25.00/hr | $25.50/hr | +$0.50 | +$1,040.00 |
| $30.00/hr | $30.60/hr | +$0.60 | +$1,248.00 |
| $40.00/hr | $40.80/hr | +$0.80 | +$1,664.00 |
What to do with a 2% offer
Two percent is worth negotiating precisely because it is close enough to the average to move. Going from 2% to 3.5% on $60,000 is $900 more this year — but because raises compound, it is also a permanently higher base for every future increase, bonus and pension contribution calculated as a share of salary. Over ten years that single conversation is worth far more than $900.
2% raise FAQ
How much is a 2% raise on $60,000?
$1,200 a year, taking your salary to $61,200. That is +$46.15 per bi-weekly paycheck before tax, and about $37.08 after federal income tax and FICA.
Does a 2% raise beat inflation?
No. With CPI at 3.4% over the 12 months ending July 2026, a 2% raise is a real-terms reduction of 1.35% — your salary rises but buys slightly less than before.
How much of a 2% raise do I keep after tax?
On a $60,000 salary, about $964.20 of the $1,200 — 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 2% raise good?
No, but it is common. It is below the typical US salary increase budget and below recent inflation, so it is a small real-terms pay cut dressed as an increase.
How much is a 2% raise per hour?
Two percent of your hourly rate — 40 cents on $20, 50 cents on $25, 60 cents on $30. At 40 hours a week that is $832, $1,040 and $1,248 a year respectively.
Other raise percentages
- 1% raise
- 1.5% 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 Time2% raises compounded over 10 years.
Estimates are for planning only. This is not tax, legal or financial advice.