1. What is Percentage Increase in Hourly Pay?

The percentage increase in hourly pay measures how much a worker's wage has grown compared to their previous rate. It's a key metric for understanding raises, job changes, or cost-of-living adjustments in hourly employment.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the percentage increase formula:

Where:

• New Rate — Current or proposed hourly wage
• Old Rate — Previous hourly wage

Example: If your pay increased from $15/hour to $18/hour, the calculation would be: (18-15)/15 × 100 = 20% increase.

3. Importance of Calculating Pay Increases

Details: Understanding percentage increases helps workers evaluate job offers, negotiate salaries, and track wage growth over time. It also helps employers standardize raises across different pay levels.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter both hourly rates in the same currency (typically $). The old rate must be greater than 0. Results show the percentage change between the two rates.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's considered a good pay increase?
A: Typical raises are 2-5% for cost-of-living, 5-10% for merit, and 10%+ for promotions. Job changes often bring 10-20% increases.

Q2: How does this differ from dollar amount increase?
A: Percentage shows relative change (better for comparison), while dollar amount shows absolute change (better for budgeting).

Q3: Should I include benefits in this calculation?
A: This calculator only considers base hourly pay. For total compensation comparisons, include benefits separately.

Q4: What if my pay decreased?
A: The calculator will show a negative percentage, indicating a pay reduction.

Q5: How often should I calculate this?
A: Calculate whenever your pay changes, during annual reviews, or when considering job offers.