2-3%
Cost-of-living raise
Usually basic
This range may help with living costs, but it can still trail inflation when prices rise faster than pay.
2026 raise benchmark
What Is a Good Raise Percentage?
A good raise usually starts above inflation. In 2026, a 4% to 6% raise is a solid target for strong performance, while 10% or more usually points to a promotion, market correction, or job change. See how any raise compounds over time with our annual raise calculator.
Quick answer
A 3% raise is close to average but may only maintain your buying power. A 5% raise is generally good because it beats recent inflation. A 10% to 20% raise is strong and usually requires a promotion-level case or a market pay adjustment.
4-6%
Solid merit raise
Good for many roles
This is often a stronger performance raise because it can beat inflation and move your pay meaningfully higher.
10-20%+
Promotion or job-change raise
Strong
This level usually reflects a promotion, expanded responsibility, market correction, or a new employer.
Benchmarks
How to judge a 2026 raise
Use inflation as the floor, then compare your raise against company budgets, market pay, and your individual performance.
Inflation floor: 3.3%
The BLS reported a 3.3% CPI-U increase for the 12 months ending March 2026. A raise below that can feel like a pay cut in real purchasing power.
Employer budget context: about 3% to 4%
Mercer reported a 3.2% average 2026 merit increase budget and a 3.5% total salary increase budget. Raises above that range usually need clear performance, retention, or promotion justification.
Sources: BLS Consumer Price Index and Mercer 2026 salary increase budget survey.
Examples
See the full salary tableWhat common raises are worth
3% raise
$1,500/yr
On $50,000, that is about $57.69 per biweekly paycheck before taxes.
5% raise
$2,500/yr
On $50,000, that is about $96.15 per biweekly paycheck before taxes.
10% raise
$5,000/yr
On $50,000, that is about $192.31 per biweekly paycheck before taxes.
| Raise | Salary | Annual increase | Biweekly increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3% | $50,000 | $1,500 | $57.69 |
| 5% | $50,000 | $2,500 | $96.15 |
| 10% | $50,000 | $5,000 | $192.31 |
Calculate your raise
Enter your salary and raise percentage to see the annual, monthly, biweekly, and after-tax impact.
Your Salary
$
%
Quick:
📈 Above Average Raise (+5.00%)✅ Beats inflation by 1.7%(CPI 3.3%)
Your Raise
$2,500.00
+5.00% increase
New Annual Salary
$52,500.00
from $50,000.00
Per Paycheck
+$96.15
bi-weekly increase
After-Tax Increase
+$2,050.00
estimated annual take-home
Hourly
+$1.20
Before
$24.04
After
$25.24
Weekly
+$48.08
Before
$961.54
After
$1,009.62
Bi-Weekly
+$96.15
Before
$1,923.08
After
$2,019.23
Monthly
+$208.33
Before
$4,166.67
After
$4,375.00
Annual
+$2,500.00
Before
$50,000.00
After
$52,500.00
| Period | Before | After | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $24.04 | $25.24 | +$1.20 |
| Weekly | $961.54 | $1,009.62 | +$48.08 |
| Bi-Weekly | $1,923.08 | $2,019.23 | +$96.15 |
| Monthly | $4,166.67 | $4,375.00 | +$208.33 |
| Annual | $50,000.00 | $52,500.00 | +$2,500.00 |
After-Tax Impact
$41,000.00 → $43,050.00 (+$2,050.00/yr)
Est. US federal effective rate. Varies by state and deductions.
Real Raise (Inflation-Adjusted)
Your raise: 5.0% — Inflation (CPI): 3.3% → Real purchasing power change: +1.7%
FAQ
Good Raise Percentage Questions
- Is a 3% raise good in 2026?
- A 3% raise is average, but it is slightly below the 3.3% CPI-U inflation rate for the 12 months ending March 2026. It may not fully protect your purchasing power.
- Is a 5% raise good?
- A 5% raise is generally a good raise because it is above recent inflation and above a basic cost-of-living adjustment. On a $50,000 salary, it adds $2,500 per year before taxes.
- What raise percentage should I ask for?
- Use inflation, your performance, market pay, and your added responsibilities as anchors. A 4% to 6% request can be reasonable for strong performance, while 10% or more usually needs promotion-level justification.