[{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"Article","description":"This article is about how to ask for a raise.","articleBody":"You work hard at your job and always bring your \u201cA\u201d game. But you\u2019re starting to feel overworked and underpaid. It\u2019s clearly time to ask for more money from your employer, but what\u2019s the best way? Let\u2019s take a look at how to ask for a raise, how to get the results you want, and what you should do if you don\u2019t.  According to a Gallup poll, 43% of Americans believe they\u2019re underpaid. However, they\u2019re just not asking for the raises they think they deserve.  Another survey showed that 40% of employees aren\u2019t even sitting down with their managers to discuss their careers at all.  If you believe your work is worth more than what you\u2019re being paid now, it\u2019s critical that you ask your employer for a raise. After all, you\u2019ll receive it only if you ask.  This article will cover some of the best strategies and explain why it\u2019s so important to advocate for yourself.  What\u2019s Holding You Back? Many employees let fear prevent them from asking for the pay they deserve. We all fear rejection, especially when it comes to our careers.  Others of us just don\u2019t feel like asking for more money is even possible. According to research by Jobvite, only 29% of jobseekers negotiated their salary at either their current or most recent job.  Clearly, we just don\u2019t believe our salaries are negotiable.  Women, in particular, are less likely to ask for raises than their male counterparts, even though they\u2019re just as likely to complain about their paychecks.  Asking for a raise is especially important for women, who on average make only 80% of what their male counterparts earn. That gender pay gap will close only if women learn how to ask their boss for a raise.  When Should I Ask for a Raise? When Should I Ask for a Raise?  When it comes to asking for a raise, timing is everything. But picking the perfect opportunity can be extremely difficult.  Here are some ways to time your negotiations well.  Ask for a Raise When It Makes Sense for the Company This should be a no-brainer: Don\u2019t ask for more money if your company is in financial trouble.  However, you also should avoid negotiating your pay when management has already set the yearly budget. After all, nothing\u2019s quite as awkward as your boss telling you, \u201cI\u2019d like to pay you more\u2026 but we just don\u2019t have the money!\u201d  Avoid this by finding out when the company plans its fiscal budget, and schedule accordingly. Let your supervisor know well in advance \u2014 they will appreciate having the extra time to evaluate your performance and make a fair decision.  Ask for a Raise After You\u2019ve Proven Your Worth Your manager is more likely to grant the request if they think you\u2019re one of your company\u2019s top contributors.  A great time to broach the subject of a higher salary is when you\u2019ve just received a positive performance review. Your boss may even be expecting you to bring it up!  Another opportunity is after you\u2019ve successfully wrapped up an important project. Wait till a time when the value you bring to the team is obvious.  If you know you\u2019re going to ask for a raise soon, start taking on extra responsibilities whenever you can. Show your boss that you\u2019re capable of going beyond your job description and that you\u2019re worthy of increased compensation.  However, if you find yourself taking on extra work \u2014 without the job title or compensation to match \u2014 don\u2019t expect an immediate reward. Your company might want to make sure you can succeed in the role before giving it to you officially.  Talk to Your Coworkers Bringing up the topic of money with your coworkers might feel awkward, but it can actually be useful. It can help you determine whether you\u2019re being underpaid (and your boss knows it) or if asking for a bump would be impractical.  Just as learning the market rate for positions like yours helps you determine your real value, finding out what your coworkers make can give you an idea of how much of a raise you\u2019re likely to receive.  In addition, knowing how much your coworkers make can give you additional leverage during negotiations.  Of course, that doesn\u2019t mean you can simply demand a raise to match a coworker\u2019s salary. Instead, think of this as one of many pieces of information that back up your argument for more money.  What if your company has forbidden you from disclosing your salary information? It\u2019s actually illegal for companies to implement pay-secrecy policies for most employees.  However, make sure to bring the subject up only with a coworker whom you trust and are on friendly terms with. It can seem especially unprofessional to discuss this topic with new employees.  How to Negotiate a Raise How to Negotiate a Raise  After you\u2019ve done some research, you\u2019ll have all the information you need to start planning your request. This is the time to identify exactly how much money you\u2019re going to ask for and decide how to ask your boss for a raise.  Schedule a Time With Your Boss First, you\u2019ll need to set up a time to meet with your boss. Just be forthright and tell them you\u2019d like a meeting to discuss your salary. They\u2019ll know exactly what that means and start thinking about the value you bring to the table.  Make sure to schedule in advance. You\u2019ll feel confident going into the meeting if you\u2019ve taken the time to develop a clear plan for your presentation.  How Much to Ask For How much of a raise should I request? is another common question among employees who feel underpaid. You could leave money on the table if you ask for too little, but you might not get anything if you push for too much.  It\u2019s important to have firm numbers in mind before you even ask for a meeting. It\u2019s tough to make these decisions on the spot.  First, before the meeting, come up with an acceptable range for what you\u2019d be willing to accept.  At the high point of that range is your target number. This is what you\u2019d ideally like to make. It should be your first offer.  At the bottom of your range is the lowest amount you\u2019d accept before you move on to your career Plan B.  Now, it might be that you really love your job and employer and are willing to stay no matter how small of a raise \u2014 or lack thereof \u2014 you\u2019re counter-offered. That\u2019s fine too. And congratulations on having a great job!  The Average Raise It\u2019s worth mentioning that the average raise is between 10% and 20%. So \u2014 as a rule of thumb \u2014 if you\u2019re currently earning $40,000, it\u2019s not outlandish to expect an extra $4,000 or $8,000 per year.  That\u2019s not to say you can\u2019t earn more in special cases.  Consider Inflation The value of a dollar goes down each year, so you essentially receive a pay decrease every year you don\u2019t get a raise. If your salary hasn\u2019t changed in a few years, you could be earning substantially less than you initially agreed to.  The inflation rate fluctuates from year to year, but it\u2019s typically around 2%.  Use an inflation calculator to determine how much value your salary has lost since you negotiated last. You should ask for at least enough money to offset the effects of inflation.  Do Your Research Do some research into typical rates for people in your field for an idea of what you should be earning. If you\u2019re not satisfied in your current position, consider looking passively for other jobs.  Leverage Outside Offers Don\u2019t be afraid to take offers from the competition to your current company and ask if they\u2019re willing to match. After all, you should always try to work for the business that values you the most.  Prepare Your Presentation Even if you have good reasons for wanting a raise, it can be tough to effectively articulate them during your meeting. Think about your main points ahead of time and develop notes to help you illustrate your value.  Depending on your presentation approach, this outline could be as simple or as detailed as you prefer. You could jot a few bullet points down on a note pad or create an entire PowerPoint presentation to show your boss. Just do what feels natural to you.  Lead With Your Target Number You\u2019ll have more control over the conversation if you make the first offer. Tell your boss what you\u2019d like to earn near the beginning of the meeting. Include examples and statistics that demonstrate why you\u2019re worth that amount.  You\u2019re selling your boss on yourself, so it\u2019s important to project confidence throughout the meeting. Ask only for a number you truly feel you deserve, and try to maintain a positive tone at all times.  The pity card doesn\u2019t work with employers. Show your boss that you\u2019re upbeat about your career and the company. Whatever you do, don\u2019t complain!  Respond to Feedback Highlighting successes is one of your main goals, but your boss might also offer constructive feedback or mention areas where they\u2019d like you to improve.  While it\u2019s tempting to offer excuses for less-than-perfect performance, it\u2019s better to acknowledge the criticism.  Your boss will appreciate your willingness to listen and make improvements, and you don\u2019t want your meeting to devolve into an argument.  Try to get back to your positive points whenever possible, but be prepared to discuss concerns.  Wait for a Response You may be able to wrap up negotiations in the first meeting, but your boss might need more time. Keep putting everything you can into your job and going beyond your responsibilities whenever possible.  Don\u2019t be afraid to follow up a week or two later if you still haven\u2019t heard back. Remember that your boss might not be the only person involved in the decision \u2014 raises often need to be approved by several decision-makers.  Make a Counter Offer Hopefully, your boss will grant your request and you\u2019ll start making more money. On the other hand, you need to have a Plan B in mind in case that doesn\u2019t happen.  You can adjust your request by offering to take on more responsibilities in exchange for the raise. Convincing your boss that they\u2019ll get a return on that investment may go a long way toward securing the raise.  Even if you don\u2019t get a raise, you might still be able to ask for an alternative. A one-time bonus, a flexible schedule, or additional vacation days could make you feel better about your job.  Don\u2019t Get Discouraged If your boss doesn\u2019t accept your first offer, don\u2019t let that discourage you for the rest of the meeting. Continue explaining why you feel you\u2019re worth more than you currently earn. If they don\u2019t think it\u2019s the right time, ask what you can do to put yourself in position to get a raise later on.  Once you\u2019ve made it clear that you\u2019re looking for more, your boss will think of you for future opportunities. The meeting could end up being valuable even if it doesn\u2019t lead to an immediate raise.  Develop New Goals No matter what happens in your meeting, you\u2019ll need to start working toward new career goals. If you earn the raise, you might be thinking of a long-term future with your current company.  If you didn\u2019t get what you wanted, you can still use the information your boss gave you in the meeting to continue making yourself a more valuable employee. This would also be a good time to look for other positions if you haven\u2019t already started. There\u2019s no better leverage for a raise than an offer for more money from another company.  How to Ask for a Raise via Email How to Ask for a Raise via Email  Meeting with your boss in-person is usually the best way to ask for a raise, but you can also ask via email if your manager works in another location. This section will cover everything you need to know if you\u2019re wondering how to ask for a raise in writing.  Write a Clear Subject Line The subject line of your email should make it clear that you\u2019re interested in a raise \u2014 your manager probably receives a large number of emails every day, so it\u2019s important to let them know the topic of the message.  Stay Professional Emails related to a pay raise will likely be shared with other people in your company. Even if you and your boss are casual with each other, use a formal tone when asking for a raise in writing.  You can either add your initial offer in this email or wait for them to provide a specific number. If you feel confident that you\u2019re worth a substantial raise, including a high number in your first message puts you in better position to control negotiations.  Explain Your Reasoning You won\u2019t have a chance to respond to questions over email, so it\u2019s important to tell them exactly why you feel you deserve more money. Remember to keep things positive, and avoid complaining about your current compensation.  Keep in mind that your manager might not be up-to-date on your latest career developments, especially if they oversee a large number of people. Remind them of new responsibilities you\u2019ve taken on or recent successful projects \u2014 anything that demonstrates your value.  Suggest a Meeting Your boss will hopefully approve the request upon reading your email, but they may not feel ready to make that decision. Near the end of the message, let them know that you\u2019re available for a Skype or phone meeting if necessary.  Even if you don\u2019t work in the same zip code as your boss, having a conversation gives them a chance to ask questions and negotiate specific terms. If they request a meeting, use the tips above to create an effective presentation.  How to Ask for a Raise as a Woman How to Ask for a Raise as a Woman  Research shows that women are less likely than men to ask for a raise. While men generally overestimate their skills, women tend to sell themselves short \u2014 even when they\u2019re overqualified.  Women face additional obstacles when asking for more money, but that doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t get the raise you want. Keep these ideas in mind to negotiate effectively with your boss and earn the salary you\u2019re worth.  (Interestingly, women tend to be better at investing money once they\u2019ve got it. You can read more about that here.)  Document Your Successes Women often go unrecognized for their efforts in the workplace, so it\u2019s especially important to keep track of your progress. Maintain records of successful projects to refer to when you decide to ask for a raise.  Having documentation of your work history can also help you convince yourself that you\u2019re worth more money. Believing in your own value is the first step toward getting a raise.  Speak Up Some women \u2014 and men as well \u2014 assume they\u2019ll eventually be recognized for their performance, but this isn\u2019t always true. Anyone\u2019s performance can be overlooked, but this is an especially common problem for women in the workforce.  Women often have to advocate for themselves twice as much for the same result. You can increase your odds of receiving the recognition and compensation you deserve by letting your manager know that you\u2019re worth more than you\u2019re currently making.  How to Ask for a Bigger Raise Than Offered How to Ask for a Bigger Raise  What if your employer has announced you\u2019re already getting a raise\u2026 but you\u2019d like to negotiate for an even larger amount?  Many businesses adjust salaries each year in response to inflation, performance, and other considerations. That\u2019s great if you get the amount you think you deserve. But what if you don\u2019t? When you\u2019ve already been offered a raise, it might feel uncomfortable to ask for even more.  You may not be able to get the raise you want this year. On the other hand, you can still let your manager know why you feel you deserve more. They\u2019ll be more likely to think of you for a raise when the next round of evaluations arrives. Keep these ideas in mind to navigate this situation and earn more money on top of your annual increase.  Acknowledge the Existing Raise Even if you were unhappy with your raise, it\u2019s still best to thank your boss for the money you did get. Something is still better than nothing, and managers typically have very limited budgets for raises. The last thing you want to do is complain about your previous increase and ruin your chances for another one.  Once you\u2019ve commented on your annual raise, start talking about the reasons you think you deserve even more. At this point, negotiating for an additional raise works the same way as asking for one at any other time of the year.  Develop Expectations If your manager is willing to consider your request, ask what you can do to earn a raise next year. Setting mutual expectations for the rest of the year gives you something to refer to next evaluation season.  This could also be the perfect opportunity to ask for candid feedback from your boss. Ask if there\u2019s anything holding you back from a raise or promotion and how you can address the situation. They\u2019ll appreciate your initiative and desire to keep improving.  Continue to Follow Up The first conversation with your boss is a big step, but it\u2019s important to keep following up. Your manager might forget about your request throughout the year, so send occasional emails to update them on your progress. Ask for ongoing feedback whenever possible to keep them engaged with changes in your performance.  Remember to send another update when you get close to next year\u2019s reviews. Include a short summary of your performance throughout the year and how it compares to the expectations you set. Propose another meeting to go over this information more thoroughly and answer any questions.  How Often to Ask for a Raise How to Often to Ask for a Raise  It can be tough to decide how long after receiving a raise you should wait before asking for another one. While you don\u2019t want to work for less than you\u2019re worth, you also don\u2019t want to push it too far.  If you\u2019ve recently had a major change in duties or performance, an earlier raise shouldn\u2019t prevent you from getting another. On the other hand, it\u2019s best not to ask for two raises in the same 12 months. Whether you\u2019ve done enough to make an exception to this rule is up to you.  Asking for a Raise After Starting a New Job Similarly, new hires sometimes feel they\u2019re doing more than was listed in the job description. Most people recommend waiting at least a year in your new job before requesting a raise, but this isn\u2019t always the best advice.  If you\u2019ve taken on significantly more responsibilities than expected, there\u2019s no reason not to ask for a raise after about six months. Let them know how you go beyond the role you agreed to and why what you\u2019re doing is worth more money. That said, your manager may want to see a period of consistently outstanding performance before they approve a raise.  Final Thoughts There\u2019s no clear answer for common questions such as how to ask your boss for a raise and how much of a raise to ask for, but managers are usually more willing to negotiate than you might assume. Keep these tips in mind to get the compensation you deserve and negotiate the best raise possible.  Once you\u2019ve finished negotiations, keep looking for new ways to make extra money and continue increasing your income.","dateModified":"2022-08-07","name":"How to Ask for a Raise Article","datePublished":"2019-11-19","headline":"How to Ask for a Raise","image":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/how-to-ask-for-raise.jpg","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/career\/success\/how-to-ask-for-a-raise\/","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Money-Done-Right-Personal-Finance-and-Investing-Blog.png","name":"Money Done Right Logo","height":"488","width":"60","@id":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/#ImageObject"},"address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","name":"Money Done Right Address","addressCountry":"United States","addressLocality":"Valencia","addressRegion":"California","postalCode":"91354","streetAddress":"23890 Copper Hill Dr Ste 139","@id":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/#PostalAddress"},"url":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/","publishingPrinciples":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/methodology\/","additionalType":"Blog","name":"Money Done Right","email":"support@moneydoneright.com","sameAs":["https:\/\/twitter.com\/moneydoneright","https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/moneydoneright\/","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/moneydoneright\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/money-done-right\/","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/moneydoneright\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/c\/MoneyDoneRight"],"foundingLocation":"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Santa_Clarita,_California","legalName":"Allec Media LLC","naics":"519130","parentOrganization":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/#ParentOrganization","founder":{"@type":"Person","hasCredential":["https:\/\/cslainstitute.org\/","https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Certified_Public_Accountant"],"url":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/author\/logan-allec\/","spouse":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/author\/caroline-allec\/","image":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Logan-Allec-Money-Done-Right.jpg","name":"Logan Allec","description":"Logan Allec is a practicing Certified Public Accountant, Certified Student Loan Professional, and the founder of personal finance blog Money Done Right.  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