A raise conversation goes better when you know the facts. Know what you contribute, what the market pays, and what a particular increase means for the money you actually keep.
Know what you are worth
Look at what similar jobs pay in your area, using job adverts, industry surveys and conversations with people in the field. Note your results, the new responsibilities you have taken on and any feedback from customers or managers. A request backed by facts is much easier for a manager to approve.
Know what a raise is worth to you
Use our calculator. Enter your current pay, then the pay you are asking for, and compare the net figures. This tells you how much extra you will keep, which is the number that matters to your budget. Remember that a raise is taxed at your marginal rate, so you keep less than the headline increase, but you always keep some.
Choose your moment
Timing matters. Good moments include after you have completed a big project, when you have taken on new duties, or at your regular review. Avoid times when the company is facing difficulty. Ask for a meeting rather than raising it in a corridor.
Make the case
A simple structure works well:
- Open with what you enjoy about the job and want to do more of.
- Describe what you have achieved and taken on, with specifics.
- Share what similar roles pay, and name the figure you are asking for.
- Stop and listen. Silence is fine.
If the answer is no, or not yet
Ask what you would need to achieve to earn a raise, and when you can review it again. Other things may be possible: extra holiday, flexible hours, training, a better job title or a bonus. Get any agreement in writing, and put the review date in your diary.
Think about after the raise
When a raise comes through, decide in advance where the extra take-home pay goes. A share into savings or retirement, a share to clear debts and a small share to spend can make the raise feel real without disappearing into everyday costs.
Calculators for this guide
More tips
- How to Read a Payslip, Line by Line
- Hourly, Weekly, Monthly or Yearly: Converting Pay Without Mistakes
- Marginal and Effective Tax Rates: Why a Pay Rise Never Costs You Money
- Retirement Contributions and Take-Home Pay: Before Tax or After?
- How to Compare Two Job Offers Properly
- Why Your Real Payslip May Differ From an Online Estimate
- Bonuses and Overtime: Why They Seem to Be Taxed More
- How to Build a Budget From Your Take-Home Pay
- States With No Income Tax: What That Does and Does Not Mean
- Moving for a Job: Will You Really Be Better Off?
- Self-Employed? How Much Should You Set Aside for Tax
- Student Loan Repayments and Your Take-Home Pay
- A Yearly Tax Check-Up in Thirty Minutes
- All tips and guides
These guides are general information and estimates to help you plan. They are not tax advice. Rules and rates change, so check the official tax authority for your country.