How to Ask for a Raise at Work: Guide and Example

It is natural for employees to desire a raise from their current salary when their work has contributed to the company's success. Although deserving, there are important things you need to consider to not seem unprofessional and predatory.

To maintain confidence and graciousness in wanting to increase your earning potential, try to contemplate these questions first: How do you politely ask for a salary increase? What is a typical amount to ask for a raise? How do I prove I deserve a raise?

To further help you in requesting a raise, this article will guide you through important details on how to prepare, when and how to ask for a raise, and an example to give you a good picture of how to approach your bosses with dignity.

How to prepare

It is always important to be ready before asking for a pay increase, or else it can be a nerve-wracking experience. Here is a step-by-step process on how to prepare before facing your employer and asking for a raise:

• Build your track record
  Factor in your education, level of experience, years of work in the current company, and specialized skills and knowledge. Create a summary of your accomplishments and how they add value to the company.
  
  Example: You are a senior sales engineer who led a team of 20 people to complete a 6-month project that increased the sales of the company by 10% consistently over the last 2 years.
• Do salary research on the market standard
  To ensure that your pay is aligned with your qualifications, know the current market trends based on factors such as the job position, company, location, and experience. Achieve this through tools with up-to-date market data, like Salary.com's Personal Salary Report.
• Practice on what to say
  Having a script is not necessary, but make sure you know how to justify your pay bump. State the purpose of the meeting, cite salary trends and data, follow up on key contributions, be prepared for questions, and end the meeting with courtesy.

When to ask for a salary increase

Choosing the right time to ask for an increase is also a crucial factor in its success. Here are the appropriate opportunities to seek a meeting with your manager or human resources and discuss your salary increase:

• Annual performance reviews: Conversations about salaries are naturally expected when there is a performance review coming up. If you have performed well in the company, you have an advantage in being considered for a pay raise.
• Completing a major project: This is a good testament to an employee's contribution and hard work, so asking for an increase after achieving this is a great opportunity. Make sure to use specific numbers when detailing your contributions to the project.
• The company is financially healthy: Consider the budgetary capabilities of the company. If the operation is going well, then that is a sign to ask for a raise. However, if the company has financial constraints, then a salary increase might not be a priority.
• Manager is happy: Avoid asking for a pay raise when managers are going through hectic and stressful time periods where they don't have enough time or tolerance. Ensure that your superior is settled at a convenient time to clearly discuss pay raises with you.

Important questions to ask

Knowing how to ask for a raise is also recognizing the considerations that come with a higher salary. Ask important questions during the discussion so that expectations and conditions are communicated properly. Here are crucial things to ask about:

• What are the additional responsibilities for my job description that come with the pay increase?
• If a pay raise is possible, will I manage or report to new colleagues?
• If a pay raise is not possible now, when will it likely happen?
• Alongside the raise, what are the requirements for me to further advance my career in this organization?

If your pay raise request was not successful, proceed with grace and ask professionally for additional company perks that you can get instead, such as more vacation time, more paid time off, bonus points, telecommuting, or a title change.

Tips on how to ask for a raise

Now that you have secured perfect timing and prepared your qualifications, achievements, data from market research, and presentation in asking for a raise, it is now time to have a conversation with your manager. Before you do that, consider these tips first for a successful salary discussion:

• Set an appointment: Schedule a personal and private meeting with your manager. If it is during performance reviews, salary discussions are probably on their schedule. If it is not during performance reviews, set an appointment 2 weeks in advance.
• Establish a plan: If the pay raise conversation fails, discuss plans with your manager on how you can achieve your desired salary through a clear timeline and goals.
• Manage expectations: Be realistic with your target salary range and increase and consider the management side. Avoid bringing up personal financial struggles since they don't relate to your work performance.
• Expect questions: Be prepared to be asked why you deserve a raise. This is the time to showcase your contributions, accomplished projects, experiences, and skill sets. Be open to salary negotiation, acceptable compromises, and extra responsibilities.
• Have a good character: Be confident and sure of yourself and your performance. Extend gratitude to your manager and remain dynamic towards achieving the company's goals. A strong argument can still promote respect and positive feedback.

How to ask your boss for a raise: example

Here is an example of how you can ask your manager for a raise:

"Dear (Name of the Manager),

I am grateful for the opportunities that this company has given me throughout the years. I have taken on new roles, more responsibilities, learned additional skills and competencies, achieved goals, and exceeded performance targets.

I think things are going well, and I would like to discuss with you how this can potentially increase my compensation as a (Current Role) for (Number of Years Working in the Company). Here are my recent accomplishments and responsibilities throughout the years:

• Led the...
• Exceeded goals in...
• Improved the efficiency of...
• Mastered the skills in...
• Increased sales and productivity by X%...

The company can also count on me for my proficiency in (Insert Specialized Skills and Abilities).

Given my valuable contribution to the company for the past years, I think it is proper to request a pay raise. Based on the data by Salary.com, the average annual salary for (Job Title) with (Experience Level) is (Average Annual Salary). The benchmark has set an X% pay raise based on the location. This would make my new salary change from (Starting Salary) to (New Salary).

I would like to discuss this more in a short meeting. Please let me know if the schedule works for you. Thank you for your consideration.

Best regards,
Employee Name
Job Title"

As an employee, you have to ensure that you are getting the appropriate salary increase that reflects the value of your work. To give you trusted and updated salary data based on your job, company, and experience, a Personal Salary Report helps you negotiate pay raises with confidence.