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Salary vs. Inflation
A nominal raise feels good — but did it outpace inflation? Enter your salaries and metro area to see whether your real purchasing power went up, stayed flat, or quietly declined.
Data: BLS CPI-U | Metro inflation: 2025 annual average (M13) | Last updated: April 2026
Enter Your Salaries
Nominal Raise
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Inflation Rate
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Real Raise
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Inflation-Adj Salary
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Your Raise vs. Inflation
Inflation by Metro during Last Year (2025)
The following inflation rates are based on 2025 average inflation from BLS CPI-U.
What Is a "Real" Raise?
A nominal raise is the percentage increase in your paycheck. A real raise adjusts for inflation — it tells you whether your actual purchasing power increased. If your salary went up 3% but local inflation ran at 4%, your real raise was -1%. You took home more dollars but could buy less. Metro inflation is based on the BLS CPI-U annual average for 2025.
Salary Analysis by Amount
See a detailed inflation breakdown for specific salary levels.
Salary Analysis by City
See how a specific salary holds up against local inflation and rent costs in major U.S. cities.