Asking your boss for a raise can be one of the most stressful conversations you will face in your career. How do you broach the topic? What words should you use? How much of a raise should you ask for? Finding answers to these questions might seem daunting, but we’re here to help. With research and preparation, you will know exactly how to ask your boss for a raise.
It’s okay to ask for a raise
First, we want to take a minute to encourage you. It is completely okay to ask your boss for a raise. It might feel awkward, and you might worry that you’ll be seen as greedy for even broaching the subject. But in reality, asking to revisit compensation is acceptable for an employee to request. A raise isn’t a gift — it’s a way for your salary to reflect your increased job proficiency and the market value for your role.
Consider the alternative. Maybe you never ask for a raise, hoping your boss will notice your hard work and contributions. Sometimes this method works, but rarely on your timeline. It usually results in both disappointment and less income over the course of your career.
Keep in mind that your boss is likely accustomed to discussing salary with employees, especially if they are experienced managers. The topic won’t feel as fraught for them as it might for you. You work in exchange for compensation, and conversations about it are something your boss expects to have as part of their role. Asking for a raise won’t damage your working relationship with them as long as you are respectful and realistic throughout the process.
When should I ask for a raise?
Part of being seen as a competent and valuable team member is demonstrating that you understand the current climate of the company. If your organization is going through budget cuts, significant layoffs, or a hiring freeze, asking for a raise right now might be out of touch with the current sensitive atmosphere.
Consider also the compensation calendar at your organization. When are budgets determined? Is there an annual review process or regular salary adjustments for cost-of-living increases? Understanding how your organization approaches salary increases can help you determine the best time for starting this conversation. Keep in mind that the approval process for a compensation adjustment can move slowly. You might ask your boss for a raise in August but not get word that everything was approved until January.
There is one important exception to everything we’ve said above. If you are currently underpaid, you should start the conversation immediately — especially if you’re in a pivotal role and it would benefit your company to keep you on board. It often costs more to replace an employee than to offer them a raise, so give your boss a chance to work with HR to correct your compensation and ensure you’re being paid a fair wage. Asking for a raise when you’re underpaid is a different conversation, so we’ve put together separate advice on how to ask for a raise when you are underpaid.
One more thing to consider is your standing as an employee. If your boss has raised concerns about your performance that you haven’t addressed, or if you are on a PIP, this might not be the wisest time to ask for a raise. On the flip side, if you’ve recently completed a large project or received glowing feedback from colleagues or clients, seize the moment!
Give your boss time to prepare
You don’t want to spring this conversation on your boss without giving them time to prepare. You don’t need to be coy or dance around the subject, either. If you and your boss have regular 1:1s, you could mention it during one of those meetings. Say something like, “I’d like to set up a time to review my compensation and discuss an increase. Is there a day that would work for you for that conversation?” Your boss will either arrange the meeting with you, or they may tell you they will get back to you with a meeting invite. If they ask you to put time on their calendar, send an invitation with a clear title and agenda.
Why does your boss need a heads up? Because they need time to prepare for this conversation — same as you. It’s important that you understand one crucial factor: Your boss typically doesn’t decide whether you will get a raise. Employees often assume that their manager determines their salary, but it’s possible your boss doesn’t even remember what you currently make. They will typically need to go through the proper channels in order to have this conversation with you. They’ll have to meet with HR to discuss the compensation calendar, timing, if there’s room in the budget for a salary increase, and how much of an increase they can authorize.
How to prepare for the conversation
Confidence is key, and the key to confidence is preparation. Before you can ask your boss for a raise, you need to prepare for the conversation. Start by asking yourself a few questions.
When was your last raise? If you have received a raise in the past 12 months, asking for another without a compelling reason could be seen as demanding and out of touch. Again, the exception to this is if you are currently underpaid and the raise you received in the last year still didn’t bring your salary into the correct range. If it’s been more than a year since your last salary increase or if you’ve never received a raise, you will have a stronger case when you meet with your boss.
What positive impacts have you made on the company? It’s time to start connecting the dots on why you deserve a raise. Make a list of your achievements from the last six to 12 months and include specific numbers wherever possible. If you led a project that resulted in X new leads and $Y in new client revenue, for instance, include those results. To help you get started, look at your team’s goals for the year and quantify how your work helps your team meet them. Also, if you’ve received positive feedback from your boss, colleagues, or clients, compile it and bring it to the meeting.
What is the market rate for your role? Start by taking the Payscale salary survey to get a better idea of the salary range that someone with your experience in your industry might expect. Because online salary data sites can’t give you an exact number due to the nuances of different job titles at different organizations, you’ll also want to research salary ranges listed on job postings for your role. If you know other people who do similar work in your field, you could ask them what they’d expect to pay someone with your job title. Gathering data from multiple sources can give you a better idea of where you currently stand in your salary range and can help you begin to calculate how much more you can expect to earn.
How much of a salary increase are you asking for? According to Fortune, the average pay raise for 2023 is predicted to be over three percent. How much was your last salary increase? If your company typically does three to five percent raises, asking for a 20 percent raise might seem wildly out of touch unless your job is no longer in line with the market. A good rule of thumb is to ask for up to 10 percent more than your current salary. Again, compare this number with the salary data you collected to be sure it’s in the correct ballpark for your specific situation. If your research shows that a 10 percent raise still won’t get you close to the median range for your position, you are likely underpaid and in need of a market adjustment — not just a pay raise. If that’s the case, head over here for advice on how to ask for a raise when you are underpaid.
How to ask your boss for a raise
It’s time for the meeting. This is what you’ve been preparing for, and by this point — you’re ready. First, set the tone for the meeting. Thank your boss for their openness to having this conversation with you. Remember that it’s supposed to be an open dialogue. Be friendly and confident. Approach this conversation as though you and your boss are on the same team with the same goal: having an honest discussion about your current compensation and contributions to the company.
Make sure to use clear language when you make your request. For example:
“I’d like to discuss an increase of X percent. I came to this number based on my research, and what I found was [insert your findings here].”
Be sure you tie your request and your accomplishments to your future with the company. What are your goals in this job? How do those goals benefit the company? How are you currently meeting them? You could say something like:
“I think I’m a strong candidate for a raise due to my contributions to our team and organization. [Expand on your accomplishments using the list you compiled before the meeting.]”
One last piece of advice: Use the word ‘earn’ instead of ‘deserve.’
“I believe I’ve earned a raise,” versus “I deserve a raise.”
Because this is a conversation, give your boss room to respond and listen to what they say. Stay calm and collaborative.
What happens next?
It’s unlikely that your boss will be able to give you an answer during the first meeting. They may have to take your request back to HR for review and/or approval. It might be helpful to prepare a handout for them that details your specific request, your market research, and the reasons you believe you have earned a raise. Your boss may set up a follow-up meeting with you to review a total rewards statement and/or your salary history with the company. If not, you can ask for a timeline of when they might have more information for you. You could offer to follow up with them in two weeks if you haven’t heard anything by then.
It might feel scary to ask your boss for a raise, but we hope this guide has helped you gain some confidence. Remember: Asking for a raise means you are investing in yourself and your future, which is always worth your time and effort.
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