Reverse paycheck calculator

How much of a raise do you need?

Start with the take-home increase you want. The calculator works backward, testing salaries against the same 2026 tax engine until it finds the gross raise that reaches your goal.

Your starting point

Set a take-home goal

Binary search
Include current benefits Optional

Estimated gross raise needed

$9,285

New estimated salary: $94,285

Extra per check$231
Extra per month$500
Extra per year$6,000
64.6% of the gross raise reaches estimated take-home

The solver repeatedly runs the same deterministic 2026 paycheck calculation until it finds the smallest salary that meets your target. Local taxes remain excluded.

Quick what-if

What common raises look like

$2,500 raise+$135estimated monthly take-home

+$1,624 per year

$5,000 raise+$270estimated monthly take-home

+$3,238 per year

$10,000 raise+$538estimated monthly take-home

+$6,461 per year