4% Raise Calculator
A 4% raise in dollars: annual increase, per-paycheck change, take-home amount and real value after inflation.
How much is a 4% raise?
Four percent is where a raise starts to be an actual raise. On $60,000 it is $2,400 a year — about $92 per bi-weekly paycheck before tax, and roughly $74 after federal income tax and FICA. It is above what most employers budget and above recent inflation, which makes it one of the few common percentages that leaves you genuinely better off.
| Current salary | New salary | Raise | Per bi-weekly check | After tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $31,200 | +$1,200.00 | +$46.15 | $964.20 |
| $40,000 | $41,600 | +$1,600.00 | +$61.54 | $1,285.60 |
| $50,000 | $52,000 | +$2,000.00 | +$76.92 | $1,607 |
| $60,000 | $62,400 | +$2,400.00 | +$92.31 | $1,928.40 |
| $75,000 | $78,000 | +$3,000.00 | +$115.38 | $2,110.50 |
| $100,000 | $104,000 | +$4,000.00 | +$153.85 | $2,814 |
| $150,000 | $156,000 | +$6,000.00 | +$230.77 | $4,101 |
Is a 4% raise good?
In a 2026 context, 4% is an above-average outcome. Salary increase budgets sat around 3.5%, with merit components nearer 3.3%, so 4% generally means either a strong performance rating, a market adjustment to correct an underpaid role, or a company competing hard for retention. It is the level at which the percentage carries information about how you are viewed.
Against inflation of 3.4% (12 months ending July 2026), a 4% raise is worth +0.58% in real purchasing power — a genuine gain.
A 4% 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 | $15.60/hr | +$0.60 | +$1,248.00 |
| $18.00/hr | $18.72/hr | +$0.72 | +$1,497.60 |
| $20.00/hr | $20.80/hr | +$0.80 | +$1,664.00 |
| $25.00/hr | $26.00/hr | +$1.00 | +$2,080.00 |
| $30.00/hr | $31.20/hr | +$1.20 | +$2,496.00 |
| $40.00/hr | $41.60/hr | +$1.60 | +$3,328.00 |
What to do with a 4% offer
The thing to establish about a 4% raise is which of those three it was. A performance-driven 4% suggests a repeatable pattern; a one-off market correction does not, and next year may revert to the budget average. Asking whether the increase was merit, market or both takes one sentence at a review and tells you a great deal about what to plan for.
4% raise FAQ
How much is a 4% raise on $60,000?
$2,400 a year, taking your salary to $62,400. That is +$92.31 per bi-weekly paycheck before tax, and about $74.17 after federal income tax and FICA.
Does a 4% raise beat inflation?
Yes, narrowly. With CPI at 3.4% over the 12 months ending July 2026, a 4% raise is worth +0.58% in real purchasing power.
How much of a 4% raise do I keep after tax?
On a $60,000 salary, about $1,928.40 of the $2,400 — 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 4% a good pay raise?
Yes, modestly. It is above the typical 3.5% US salary increase budget and above recent inflation, so it is a real gain rather than a real-terms hold.
How much is a 4% raise on $80,000?
$3,200 a year, taking the salary to $83,200. That is about $123 more per bi-weekly paycheck before tax, or roughly $95 after federal tax and FICA.
Other raise percentages
- 1% raise
- 1.5% raise
- 2% raise
- 2.5% raise
- 3% raise
- 3.5% 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 Time4% raises compounded over 10 years.
Estimates are for planning only. This is not tax, legal or financial advice.