Raise take-home pay calculator
A raise doesn't arrive at your full stated amount — FICA, federal, and state tax all take a cut first. See what actually lands in your paycheck, using the 2026 Social Security wage base and your own tax rates.
Not sure of your federal marginal rate? Check your last tax return's bracket for your filing status and income — this tool uses whatever rate you enter rather than assuming a 2026 bracket for you.
Raise amount (gross, per year)
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Estimated tax on the raise
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Extra take-home pay per year
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Extra take-home pay per month
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Last updated: September 2026 · Verified by Hugo Cardozo. Uses the SSA's official 2026 Social Security wage base ($184,500).
What actually comes out of a raise
A raise is taxed like any other income: FICA (Social Security 6.2% and Medicare 1.45%, 7.65% combined for an employee) comes out first, then federal and state income tax at your marginal rate — the rate applied to your next dollar earned, which is usually higher than your overall effective tax rate.
Why the Social Security wage base matters here
The 6.2% Social Security portion of FICA only applies up to the annual wage base — $184,500 for 2026. If your new salary after the raise crosses that threshold, the portion of your raise above it stops owing the 6.2% Social Security tax (though the 1.45% Medicare portion keeps applying with no cap).
Worked example
A $65,000 salary with a 5% raise adds $3,250/year. At a 22% federal rate and 5% state rate: FICA takes about $249, federal tax about $715, state tax about $163 — a total of roughly $1,126 (about 35% of the raise), leaving about $2,124/year, or roughly $177/month, in extra take-home pay.
Why the "take" can feel bigger than expected
Raises are taxed at your marginal rate, not your average rate across your whole salary — so a raise that pushes you further into a higher bracket can be taxed noticeably harder than your current paycheck's average withholding might suggest. This is normal and doesn't mean anything is being miscalculated on your paycheck.
Frequently asked questions
Does a raise change my 401(k) or health insurance deductions?
Not automatically — those are typically separate elections you've made (a fixed dollar amount or a percentage of pay), and a percentage-based 401(k) contribution would increase along with your new salary unless you adjust it.
What if my raise pushes me into a higher tax bracket?
Only the income within the new, higher bracket is taxed at that higher rate — the rest of your income still gets taxed at the lower brackets it already fell into. This calculator asks for your marginal rate specifically so it reflects the rate that actually applies to the raise itself.
Does this include pre-tax deductions like a 401(k) or HSA?
No — this is a simplified estimate based on gross pay. Pre-tax deductions would lower the taxable amount of the raise and change the numbers somewhat.
📘 Related guide
Read the full guide: "Why a Raise Doesn't Feel as Big as It Sounds".
Why a Raise Doesn't Feel as Big as It Sounds