Promotion and Internal Equity Calculator

Pressure-test one promotion before you commit to it. Enter the current salary, the new grade and its range, the proposed pay, and what peers already earn, and the workbook shows the size of the raise, where it lands in the new range, how it compares to peers, and what it costs in the first year.

One Excel workbook that prices a promotion before you make it

A working model, not a blank grid. You enter one move, the workbook returns the raise, the range position, the peer read, and the first-year cost, and it opens on a filled-in example so the math is clear before you change anything.

• Promotion and Internal Equity Calculator. Enter the current salary, the new grade with its minimum, midpoint, and maximum, the proposed pay, and the peers already in that grade. The workbook returns the increase, the range position, the peer comparison, and the loaded first-year cost, and opens on a filled-in example so the logic is clear before you change anything.
• The summary, the cost, and the math in plain English. A one-page summary carries the whole case into the approval: the raise, the range position, the peer read, and the loaded first-year cost. A Benchmark tab shows typical promotion increases, and the Notes tab documents how each number is calculated and how to act on it.

Three steps from a proposed promotion to a decision

You set the move, add the peers and the cost assumptions, and the workbook shows whether the number holds up.

• Set the move. Enter the current salary, the new grade with its minimum, midpoint, and maximum, and the proposed new salary.
• Add peers and assumptions. Enter what the people already in the new grade earn, and set the payroll tax and benefits rates for the cost view.
• Read it and decide. See the raise, the range position, the peer comparison, and the first-year cost, and adjust the number before it goes for sign-off.

A promotion priced the way it gets questioned

A raise that looks fine as a percentage can still land in the wrong part of the range or past peers, so the workbook keeps range position, peer pay, and cost on the surface.

• Range position, not just a percent. The workbook reports compa-ratio and range penetration against the new grade, so a promotion does not start someone near the top of the range by accident.
• Internal equity on the surface. The proposed pay sits next to the peers already in the grade, with a compression check to the level above, because paying past peers is the most common promotion mistake.
• The cost, not just the raise. Payroll tax and benefits load onto the increase, so the first-year cost is what you take to approval rather than the headline number.

Who this calculator fits and where to go if that is not you

Built for

• An HR lead or manager preparing a single promotion who needs the raise sized right before asking for approval.
• A comp partner sanity-checking promotion requests against the range and against peers.
• A small-business owner promoting someone for the first time who wants the move to hold up if other people ask about it.

If you are looking for

• A whole pay structure to build, not one move. The Salary Band Builder builds the grades and ranges this promotion lands inside.
• The annual raise cycle across the team, not a single promotion. The Merit Increase Matrix pairs performance with range position and totals the merit budget.

Before you buy

What format is it and can I edit it?

It is one Excel workbook that also works in Google Sheets. Every input and formula is editable, and the file is yours to keep. Duplicate it to test another promotion or to compare two offers side by side.

How accurate is the result?

It is exactly as good as the range and peer numbers you enter. The workbook does the range position, the peer comparison, and the first-year cost correctly from those inputs. It does not pull market data or set your promotion policy, so confirm your range data is current and review a sensitive move with a qualified professional before it is final.

Does it tell me how big the raise should be?

No. It shows the size of the raise you propose and where it lands, so you can judge it against your own policy and your peers. The number is your call.

Does it include salary survey or market data?

No. It works from the grade ranges and peer pay you enter. Pull those from your own structure or a current survey.

What is the refund policy?

Digital products are covered by a 14-day money-back guarantee. See the refund policy for the full terms.

What happens after I buy?

Checkout delivers an instant download link, and a receipt with the same link arrives by email. Open the workbook in Excel or Google Sheets and start with the inputs on the first tab. If a file gives you trouble, email support@truestephr.com.

Planning estimates and general business information, not legal or tax advice. A promotion changes pay, and pay decisions carry equity and legal weight, so confirm your own range data and review sensitive moves with a qualified professional. Last reviewed June 2026.