Did You Get a Raise—or Just a Bigger Number?
A higher wage does not automatically buy more. Compare the percentage on your paycheck with the percentage prices moved.
- ✓ Separates the headline raise from real buying power
- ✓ Shows the annual gain or loss in today’s dollars
- ✓ Works for hourly pay without collecting employer information
-0.4%
estimated change in real buying power.
- Headline raise
- 3.0%
- Inflation entered
- 3.4%
- Real annual change
- −$161
- New annual pay
- $42,848
The price tag is only the beginning.
A raise from $20 to $20.60 is 3%. With inflation at 3.4%, buying power slips by about 0.4% even though the paycheck number is higher.
Calculate your number →Benchmarks provide context; your decision uses the numbers you enter.
We make the hidden time cost of money visible.
A price can tell you what leaves your account. It cannot tell you how long you worked to earn it, what the recurring cost becomes over a year, or whether today’s purchase takes money already promised to next week.
Worth the Hours? gives you the result immediately. No registration, no subscription, and no bank login.
Before you decide.
Which inflation rate should I use?
The national CPI is a useful reference, but your personal rate may differ. Use a local or household estimate if you have one.
Does this calculate taxes?
No. Compare gross wage with gross wage or take-home wage with take-home wage consistently.