Should I include bonus?

No — keep it as base salary only here. Bonuses fluctuate and aren't guaranteed; don't count them toward your "raise."

Is a $5k raise actually meaningful?

On a $80k salary it's 6.25% — a strong raise. After taxes you keep ~$3,500/year, or ~$135 per bi-weekly check. Modest but real.

Raise Calculator — embedded

Result

New annual salary

$84,000.00

Annual increase$4,000.00
Monthly increase$333.33
Bi-weekly increase$153.85
Increase per hour (40-hr week, 50 wk)$2.00
Cumulative gain over 5 yearsassumes flat after the raise$20,000.00

5.0% — Strong merit raise

New annual salary

+$4,000.00 vs current.

$84,000.00

After ~30% tax/FICA

Most of the raise lands in your higher-rate bracket; assumes ~30% combined fed+FICA+state.

~$2,800.00 take-home gain

US average COL adj. (2024 BLS ECI)

Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Cost Index — beat this to keep up with inflation.

~3–4%/yr

5-year cumulative gain

Flat-after assumption — compounded raises grow faster.

$20,000.00

Source: BLS Employment Cost Index (ECI) and Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics — sources for typical US salary growth.

Note — Gross-only — after taxes you typically keep 60–75% of a raise depending on your marginal bracket. Doesn't account for benefits changes, equity vesting, or bonuses.

How to use this calculator

Enter your current annual salary.
Type the raise percentage you're being offered (or considering asking for).
Compare the monthly increase to what it actually changes in your life.

About this tool

A simple but useful calculator for raise negotiations. Enter your current salary and the percentage offer; see your new salary and the breakdown into monthly/biweekly/hourly increases. The "cumulative gain over 5 years" line shows the long-term value of the raise — even a small percentage compounds into real money. Note: this shows gross figures only; after taxes you'll keep about 60-75% of the raise depending on your bracket.