How to ask your boss for a raise

Career Advice

Nov 16

We could all use a raise, let’s be honest. Unfortunately, if raises aren’t built into your contract (and they often aren’t), they are a big old question mark. When do you ask for a raise? How do you present that conversation to your boss? What happens if your boss says no?

When is it an appropriate time to ask for a raise?

Everybody wants to make more money, especially considering millennials and Gen Z are the most underpaid generations. But how do you know if asking for a raise is justified?

If your current wage after tax deductions doesn’t cover your expenses or just barely covers your expenses, it’s appropriate to ask for a raise.

If you learn (or suspect) that people at your company in similar positions to yours or with a comparable level of experience are paid a higher wage than you, it’s appropriate to ask for a raise.

If you’ve worked at your company for at least a year (the length of time one can expect a raise may differ depending on the field), it’s appropriate to ask for a raise.

Natural times to ask for raise

Now that you’ve determined whether it’s appropriate to ask for a raise, when do you ask? First, look for natural times to ask for a raise. Do you have a performance review coming up? Do you have periodic meetings with your boss? These are natural times to bring up the topic of a raise.

If these aren’t in place at your company, schedule a meeting with your boss to discuss the possibility of a raise. You can ask for this meeting as directly or indirectly as you want (and as your company culture allows). You can say up front when you ask for the meeting that you want to discuss your pay rate or your future with the company, whatever feels most appropriate to you.

How to present the raise conversation

Be as direct as possible. Present why you are asking for a raise and be clear on what you’re asking for. Keep in mind that this is a negotiation. So have an ideal amount you are asking for (start here), and know in the back of your mind the minimum amount you can’t move forward without. It’s important to enter this conversation with flexibility, remaining open to a compromise.

What happens next?

Hopefully you get the raise you need. If not, let’s be prepared for what comes next. Going into the conversation of a raise, it is important to know what you can’t possibly move forward without. It is a reality that in today’s day and age, too many jobs don’t pay a liveable wage, which makes receiving a raise an absolute necessity. If you need a raise to achieve a liveable wage and your boss denies that raise, your next step is most likely to start looking for a new job.

If your current income is liveable but not ideal, then leaving may not be your best option. If this is the case, your best course of action will be to gather information and communicate with your boss as directly as possible. In this case of your boss denying a raise, ask what circumstances prevent them from giving you a raise. Is there a current financial restraint in the company? Is it timing? Are there performance markers you’re not currently meeting but could in the future? Be clear on if there’s a possibility of a raise further in the future.

If there is a possibility of a raise, just not at present, ask your boss what needs to change before you can get that raise. You can even ask for a possible timeline on when they see a raise being possible. Or maybe a timeline for when it would be appropriate to inquire about a raise again. Just because you aren’t getting the raise after the first conversation doesn’t necessarily mean it’s off the table. Making sure you ask follow-up questions to a “no” answer can help prepare you to reopen that conversation or move on to a new job.

Wherever this conversation takes you, remain confident and optimistic. You deserve to be paid well for your time and energy.