Pay Raise Calculator
A raise has two scoreboards: dollars, and purchasing power. With CPI running 4.2% (12 months through May 2026) and the median worker’s wage growth at 3.6%, the typical 2026 raise is negative in real terms. Check yours on both.
A 4% raise on $60,000 adds $2,400 ($200/month, $92 per biweekly check) — but against 4.2% inflation it’s a −0.2% real raise. Median wage growth is 3.6% (June 2026); job switchers are getting 4.1%.
- Median raise (Atlanta Fed tracker)3.6%
- Job switchers / stayers4.1% / 3.4%
- 2026 salary budgets~3.5%
- Inflation (CPI, 12-mo)4.2%
- Break-even raise4.2%
Sources: Atlanta Fed Wage Growth Tracker (June 2026); BLS ECI (Q1 2026: 3.4%); BLS CPI.
2026 raise benchmarks
| Benchmark | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Median wage growth, all workers | 3.6% | Atlanta Fed tracker, June 2026 |
| Job switchers | 4.1% | Atlanta Fed |
| Job stayers | 3.4% | Atlanta Fed |
| Employment Cost Index (wages) | 3.4% | BLS, 12 mo through Q1 2026 |
| Employer salary-increase budgets | ~3.5% | Mercer / WTW / Payscale / WorldatWork |
| Inflation (CPI-U, 12-mo) | 4.2% | BLS, through May 2026 |
The uncomfortable read: budgets at ~3.5% against 4.2% inflation means the average employee is losing ground this year, and the switcher premium (4.1% vs 3.4%) is the widest negotiating lever you have. A “4.2% raise” is the true zero.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a 4% raise on $60,000?
+$2,400/year: about $200/month or $92 per biweekly paycheck before taxes. After 4.2% inflation, its real value is roughly −0.2%.
What is the average raise in 2026?
Median wage growth is running 3.6% (Atlanta Fed, June 2026); employer budgets cluster near 3.5%. Job switchers average 4.1%.
What raise do I need to keep up with inflation?
4.2% — the 12-month CPI through May 2026. Anything less is a real-terms pay cut; the calculator's inflation field lets you test any assumption.
Is a 10% raise realistic?
Rare internally (budgets are ~3.5%) but routine when changing jobs — switcher wage growth consistently outruns stayer growth, and promotion-with-move packages commonly land 10–20%.
Sources & methodology
Sources: Atlanta Fed Wage Growth Tracker · BLS Employment Cost Index · BLS CPI.
Benchmarks as of July 2026 (tracker June 2026; ECI Q1 2026; CPI May 2026). Update the inflation field with the latest CPI when it moves.