🚀 Advanced Salary Hike Calculator - India's Most Comprehensive Tool

Real salary growth adjusts your nominal hike for inflation (currently ~4.8% in India) using the formula: Real Growth = ((1 + Nominal Growth) / (1 + Inflation Rate)) - 1. This shows your actual purchasing power increase. For example, a 10% hike with 4.8% inflation gives you a real growth of approximately 4.9%.

It depends on your salary level and deductions. Generally, the New Tax Regime is better for salaries up to ₹15 lakh with minimal investments, while the Old Regime benefits those with significant 80C investments, HRA, and other deductions. Our calculator compares both regimes automatically and shows which saves you more tax based on your specific situation.

Our industry benchmarks are based on the latest 2025 salary surveys from leading HR consulting firms including Aon, Mercer, and Deloitte. We update our data quarterly with real market data. The benchmarks vary by sector: E-commerce leads at 10.9%, IT ranges 5-8.5%, while manufacturing, automotive, and pharma average around 9.7-10%.

Absolutely! The calculator works for any salary increase scenario - annual appraisal hikes, promotions, job changes, performance bonuses, or one-time increments. Simply adjust the hike percentage accordingly. For promotions, typical increases range from 15-40%, while job changes often yield 20-50% increases depending on your industry and role.

City selection affects cost of living adjustments and contextualizes your salary growth. Metro cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore have higher living costs but also higher salary ranges. Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities offer better purchasing power with lower costs. The calculator factors these regional variations to provide localized insights and realistic salary expectations.

The Excel report includes: detailed salary analysis with before/after comparison, comprehensive tax calculations for both regimes, 5-year career progression forecast with inflation adjustment, industry benchmark comparison, take-home salary breakdown, purchasing power analysis, salary negotiation tips, and actionable recommendations. It's perfect for salary discussions with your manager or HR.

The 5-year forecast uses industry-average growth rates to project your salary trajectory, accounting for inflation and purchasing power changes. Use it to set realistic career goals, plan major financial decisions (home loans, investments), negotiate salary expectations, and identify when to consider job changes for accelerated growth. Remember, actual growth may vary based on performance, market conditions, and individual circumstances.

Yes, our calculator includes all major deductions: EPF (12% of basic salary, capped at ₹21,600 annually for 2025), professional tax (varies by state, up to ₹2,500/year), and income tax as per your chosen regime. The take-home salary displayed is after all these deductions, giving you the most accurate picture of your actual in-hand income.