Raise Percentage Calculator
Calculate your salary raise percentage or find your new salary after a raise. Includes benchmarks, worked examples, and advice on what a good raise looks like.
Raise percentage = ((New salary − Old salary) ÷ Old salary) × 100. A salary increase from £40,000 to £43,000 is a 7.5% raise. To find a new salary after a known raise percentage: New salary = Old salary × (1 + raise% ÷ 100).
Formulas
Calculate raise percentage from salaries:
Raise % = ((New Salary − Old Salary) ÷ Old Salary) × 100
Calculate new salary from raise percentage:
New Salary = Old Salary × (1 + Raise% ÷ 100)
Worked Examples
Example 1 — Calculate raise percentage: Current salary: £38,000 → New salary: £40,660 Raise % = ((40,660 − 38,000) ÷ 38,000) × 100 = 7%
Example 2 — Calculate new salary: Current salary: $75,000 → Raise: 5% New salary = $75,000 × 1.05 = $78,750
Example 3 — Is your raise keeping up with inflation? Raise received: 3% | UK CPI inflation (2025): 3.5% Real terms change = 3% − 3.5% = −0.5% (a pay cut in real terms)
Quick Reference Table
| Old Salary | 3% Raise | 5% Raise | 8% Raise | 10% Raise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £25,000 | £25,750 | £26,250 | £27,000 | £27,500 |
| £35,000 | £36,050 | £36,750 | £37,800 | £38,500 |
| £45,000 | £46,350 | £47,250 | £48,600 | £49,500 |
| $70,000 | $72,100 | $73,500 | $75,600 | $77,000 |
| $90,000 | $92,700 | $94,500 | $97,200 | $99,000 |
Salary Raise Benchmarks (2026)
UK: Average pay rise = 3.5–5% in professional sectors. Tech and finance: 5–10%. Cost of living adjustment benchmark: ~3.2% (CPI).
US: Average merit increase = 3.5–4.5%. Tech: 5–8%. High performers often receive 7–10%.
A raise below inflation is effectively a real-terms pay cut. A good raise for a high performer should exceed inflation by at least 2–3 percentage points.
FAQ
How do I calculate my raise percentage?
Subtract your old salary from your new salary, divide by your old salary, then multiply by 100. Formula: ((New − Old) ÷ Old) × 100. Example: (£43,000 − £40,000) ÷ £40,000 × 100 = 7.5%.
What is a good salary raise percentage?
In the UK, a raise of 5–8% is considered strong in 2026. A raise matching inflation (approximately 3%) maintains purchasing power but is not a real increase. Anything above 8% typically reflects a promotion or high-performer recognition.
How much is a 5% raise on a £35,000 salary?
£35,000 × 1.05 = £36,750. This is an increase of £1,750 per year, or approximately £145.83 per month before tax.
Is a 10% raise good?
Yes — a 10% raise significantly exceeds average increases of 3–5%. It typically signals strong performance, a promotion, or a counter-offer negotiation. For context, a 10% raise on £40,000 is £4,000/year extra (approximately £267/month after basic rate tax).
How do I ask for a raise?
Research your market rate (Glassdoor, LinkedIn Salary) before the conversation. Present your raise request with documented achievements and specific impact metrics. Timing matters: after a positive project completion or performance review, not during company-wide cost-cutting.