3% Raise Calculator
A 3% raise is the most common annual increase in the US. Here is what it adds in dollars, per paycheck, after tax and after inflation.
How much is a 3% raise?
Three percent is the default. It is what most annual review cycles land on, what most people expect, and what most budgets are built around. On $60,000 it means $1,800 a year — $69.23 per bi-weekly paycheck before tax, and about $55 after federal income tax and FICA for a typical single filer.
| Current salary | New salary | Raise | Per bi-weekly check | After tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $30,900 | +$900.00 | +$34.62 | $723.15 |
| $40,000 | $41,200 | +$1,200.00 | +$46.15 | $964.20 |
| $50,000 | $51,500 | +$1,500.00 | +$57.69 | $1,205.25 |
| $60,000 | $61,800 | +$1,800.00 | +$69.23 | $1,446.30 |
| $75,000 | $77,250 | +$2,250.00 | +$86.54 | $1,582.88 |
| $100,000 | $103,000 | +$3,000.00 | +$115.38 | $2,110.50 |
| $150,000 | $154,500 | +$4,500.00 | +$173.08 | $3,075.75 |
Is a 3% raise good?
The interesting thing about 3% is that it is simultaneously normal and insufficient. It is just under the 3.5% US employers budgeted for 2026 and just under the prevailing rate of consumer price inflation. So a 3% raise is genuinely typical — and also, in most recent years, a very slight real-terms pay cut. Both statements are true, which is why the question "is 3% good" produces such inconsistent answers.
Against inflation of 3.4% (12 months ending July 2026), a 3% raise is worth −0.39% in real purchasing power — a small real-terms pay cut.
A 3% 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 | $15.45/hr | +$0.45 | +$936.00 |
| $18.00/hr | $18.54/hr | +$0.54 | +$1,123.20 |
| $20.00/hr | $20.60/hr | +$0.60 | +$1,248.00 |
| $25.00/hr | $25.75/hr | +$0.75 | +$1,560.00 |
| $30.00/hr | $30.90/hr | +$0.90 | +$1,872.00 |
| $40.00/hr | $41.20/hr | +$1.20 | +$2,496.00 |
What to do with a 3% offer
Because 3% is the default, receiving it tells you almost nothing about how you are viewed. If you want to know where you stand, the useful question at review time is not about the percentage but about the distribution: what range did the team's increases fall into, and where in that range are you? A 3% that is the top of the band means something very different from a 3% that is the floor.
3% raise FAQ
How much is a 3% raise on $60,000?
$1,800 a year, taking your salary to $61,800. That is +$69.23 per bi-weekly paycheck before tax, and about $55.63 after federal income tax and FICA.
Does a 3% raise beat inflation?
No. With CPI at 3.4% over the 12 months ending July 2026, a 3% raise is a real-terms reduction of 0.39% — your salary rises but buys slightly less than before.
How much of a 3% raise do I keep after tax?
On a $60,000 salary, about $1,446.30 of the $1,800 — 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 3% raise good?
It is average. It sits just below the typical US salary increase budget and just below inflation, so it is a normal outcome that leaves your purchasing power roughly flat to slightly down.
How much is a 3% raise per hour?
Three cents on every dollar of your hourly rate: 60 cents on $20, 75 cents on $25, 90 cents on $30. At 40 hours a week those add $1,248, $1,560 and $1,872 a year.
Other raise percentages
- 1% raise
- 1.5% raise
- 2% raise
- 2.5% 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 Time3% raises compounded over 10 years.
Estimates are for planning only. This is not tax, legal or financial advice.