The Best Way To Ask for a Raise

Asking for a raise
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Lisa Fasol / The Balance 

Are you thinking of asking for a raise? If so, you might be feeling pretty nervous. But, properly preparing before you make your proposal for a raise can vastly increase your chances of success.

Talking about money is taboo in our culture. As a result, many of us feel uneasy about salary negotiation. Research shows that one of the most common reasons for not negotiating salary is feeling uncomfortable asking for more money.

Note

To overcome those nerves, prepare. Learn when and how to ask for a raise so that your request will be heard by a receptive audience.

Then, build a strategy that will help you achieve the best possible outcome. That doesn’t mean you’ll always get a “yes,” or that your boss will be able to give you the exact amount you request.

Key Takeaways

  • Try timing your negotiation with the company’s financial calendar. 
  • Ask after a big win, such as exceeding a major goal or landing a big client. 
  • If you threaten to leave, you had better be prepared to follow through.
  • Avoid giving your boss too much personal information during your discussion. 

How To Ask for a Raise

Here are some of the best ways to ask for a raise, including what to say, when to ask, and how to make a case for a pay increase.

Write, and rehearse, an agenda. Don’t walk into your meeting without having prepared beforehand. Brainstorm a list of concrete reasons as to why you deserve a raise, write them down, and rehearse them to ensure a confident and convincing delivery.

In addition to listing your accomplishments, you could mention a recent expansion in your responsibilities at work, additional tasks you’ve taken on, new strategies you’ve adopted, projects you've spearheaded, and any plans you have to further increase your department’s success.

You may also want to consider typing up and printing out a copy for your boss, so they can look it over and discuss it with other supervisors if necessary.

Note

Try asking when new funding is coming in, when the new fiscal year is starting, or when you think your employer could easily factor in a pay increase.

Request a meeting. Ask your boss when they might have a block of time free to discuss a question regarding your salary. You might even see if they are available for a meeting, which might be a more comfortable setting in which to have the conversation.

If an in-person conversation isn't feasible, here's how to request a raise via email.

Dress the part. Even if your office dress code tends to be lax, when it comes time for your meeting, you should look the part. Take those few extra minutes to put on a tie, iron your blouse, or pull your dress shoes out of the closet. Although you don’t want to look like you’re trying too hard, looking polished and professional can’t hurt, and will only help you feel more confident as you make your case.

Have other options on the back burner. No one wants to hear “no” for an answer, but a rejection can present an opportunity to make another proposition:

  • Do you want to inquire about working from home one day per week?
  • Are you in need of a new mobile phone or laptop for your work purposes?
  • Is there a conference or industry event you’d like to attend?

Your boss may be more likely to say “yes” to a smaller request after saying no to a big one.

When To Ask for a Raise

Ask after a big accomplishment. Just scored a deal or landed a big sale? It’s a good time to ask for a pay raise. Capitalize on the momentum of your success, and you may find yourself in an ideal position to ask for a salary increase.

Time your request accordingly. Familiarize yourself with your company’s review policy. Do they carry out performance reviews every three months? Every six months? Every year? Discreetly discuss with your co-workers or consult with your human resources department to get a sense of the timeline. If possible, you should also try to align your request with the company’s financial trajectory.

How Not To Ask for a Raise

Here are five things not to do when you're asking for a raise.

1. Don’t ask via email, if possible. Although it’s acceptable to schedule a meeting via email, you really should have the conversation about getting a raise in person. It’s the best way to show that you’re serious and will also allow you to gauge your boss’s reaction to your request.

2. Don’t ask at a stressful time. Use common sense when you approach your supervisor about the possibility of a raise. If your boss is particularly stressed and overworked, it’s probably not the best time to bring up the topic. If you can, wait it out and ask during a lull, or at least when you see that your supervisor is in a good mood.

3. Don’t give an ultimatum unless you’re willing to lose the job. Be careful about how you broach the topic. You don’t want to come across as too demanding. Of course, be confident and assertive in your request, but be aware of your tone and focus on being patient, professional, and understanding.

Note: Use caution with how you negotiate. You’ll probably want to avoid framing it in a way that sounds like a demand—“I need this raise, or else!”—as you should try to stay on good terms with your boss even if they say no.

4. Don’t use information about colleagues’ salaries as a reason why you should get a raise. Avoid bringing office gossip into your discussion. Even if you know someone makes more money than you and you think that you deserve a salary that’s equal—or higher—it’s advisable not to mention it.

It's just not professional, and you never know if what you've heard, or overheard, is true. Instead, focus on your individual experience and accomplishments and why you should get a raise—on your own merits, not based on what other people are getting paid.

5. Don’t supply too much personal information. Ideally, you should try to craft your proposal in a way that focuses on the reasons why you deserve an increase in salary, rather than why you might need one. Some things are better left unsaid when you're talking about a pay increase.

Unless you have an exceptionally familiar relationship with your supervisor, it’s a good idea to avoid citing personal reasons—like if your spouse lost his or her job, if you’re sending another child to college, or if an investment went bad—and instead keep the emphasis on what you’ve done to merit a raise.

What To Expect After You Have Asked for a Raise

Even though you really want to know right away, don't expect an immediate answer.

Unless you're at a very small company, your manager may not even have the authority to give you a pay raise even if they want to. It will probably need to be discussed with human resources and/or other company managers.

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Don't feel bad if your request is turned down. There simply may not be money in the budget for pay increases, regardless of how well-deserved your raise may be.

Many companies have formal company policies that determine salaries and pay raises, so there may not be flexibility to give you a raise other than when you are eligible for one under company guidelines.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is a standard yearly raise?

Standard yearly raises typically hover around 3%. However, a recent survey showed that the median pay increase is now 4%. Around one-quarter of employers said they planned to give annual increases of 5-7%. 

Is changing jobs the best way to get higher pay?

Although a pattern of job hopping can be detrimental to your career, a one-time job change is likely to boost your pay, even relative to inflation. Pew Research data shows that half of workers who changed jobs between April 2021 and March 2022 saw real pay increases of 9.7% year-over-year. However, workers who stayed put during the same time period saw their real pay decline by 1.7%.

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Sources
The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Payscale. "Shocking Facts About Negotiating Your Salary." 

  2. Salary.com. "Trending Salary.com Data Indicates the Days of Annual Salary Increases In the 3% Range Are Over."

  3. Pew Research Center. "Majority of U.S. Workers Changing Jobs Are Seeing Real Wage Gains." 

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