$300 Semi-Annual Raise versus $1000 Annual Raise

[PatronAnejo]

Cecil writes in hiscolumn of 10 April 1992,

A semiannual raise of $300 is an annual increase of $600, and if you have two such increases per year your annualized salary hike is $1,200.

Strictly speaking, the annualized hike per year is $900 (the second semi-annual salary hike is not retroactively applied to the previous semester, thus raises incurred over the course of anu given year contribute only $600 + $600/2 toward that year’s salary); your hypothetical salaryman benefits from a $300 contribution from the previous semester.

[Irishman]

The real link: http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_198.html

I think there was an old thread on this, but I’m too lazy to look. (I mean busy!

[RM_Mentock]

No, Cecil is right. He’s only talking about the salary, and its value, not how much money you’re taking home. As soon as you get your raise, your salary is that amount–regardless of whether you’ve actually received any of it.