Raise Math
Invisible raise leakage vs retained-pay plan
Illustrative yearly difference$3,600
Example current amount/year: $7,200. Example alternative amount/year: $3,600.
Difficulty: MediumIllustrative example · not verified
HiddenMeter calculator
True Cost of a Raise
A raise looks huge in gross pay. The meter shows what actually stays with you.
Optional time & attention valuesOff · your cash budget stays separate
Where the starter inputs come from
HiddenMeter's hand-set starter values are illustrative. Money amounts are in USD. They are not verified averages or current prices. No sourced price or price observation date is recorded for these starter values.
City assumptions and what to replace
City presets use static hand-set overrides or multipliers, not a local price survey or live quotes.
Replace the starter spending, time and optional risk assumptions with your own bills, quotes and choices. Your edits change the scenario; they do not turn it into a verified price estimate.
: Transparency notes reviewed; this is not a price observation or a refresh of the starter amounts.
Methodology and limitationsAdjust the meter
Inputs
Start with the estimate, then adjust the inputs to match your situation.
Additional income
Incremental costs
Optional annual risk
Optional personal value
Your cash estimate
Net cash benefit of your raise: $3,720 a year.
You are ahead in take-home cash after the assumptions you entered.
Cash totals exclude time, attention and hypothetical risk.
Net cash benefit / month
$310
Time / month
13 hrs
Attention / month
35 pts
Expected risk / year
$0
Largest modeled contributor
Estimated tax on additional income
This is one scenario, not a forecast. Adjust the inputs to explore different outcomes; the breakdown shows what is included.
Annual model contributors
The full contributor breakdown includes optional time, attention and risk valuations. It is not a list of cash charges.
- Gross raise
- −$12,000
- Estimated tax on additional income
- $3,600
- Extra commute
- $2,040
- Extra childcare
- $0
- Lifestyle change
- $2,640
- Benefit change
- -$0
- Time value
- $0
- Attention value
- $0
- Expected annual risk
- $0
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How responses are used
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Local input
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Saved responses
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Discussion prompts
Current modeled annual total
-$3,720
Includes optional valuations and annual risk; not a cash bill. Submit a real price for a specific line item.
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Current modeled annual total
-$3,720
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Illustrative comparisons
Ways to compare your assumptions
These examples do not use your inputs. Both amounts below are annual assumptions. Their difference is something to explore, not verified or guaranteed savings.
Helpful next steps
Useful ideas after the number
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