Money is a hot topic for humans. 

It’s publicly examined through market economy, stocks, investments, government spending, and company valuations; it’s discussed as budgeting, and purchases. And perhaps, amongst those you’re closer to, it’s brought up in terms of the salary you’re receiving in order to participate in modern life. 

Somehow, the latter can be the most difficult to address with relevant people, such as your hiring manager, because determining “worth” boils down to a monetary number.

While not always true of every industry, this number is typically assigned based on expertise, contribution, and devotion. Of course, with major shifts in working culture and demands for better wages, learning how to tactfully negotiate your salary may help you feel valued and fairly compensated.

Whether you’ve been in your current position for a while or are going through the onboarding process, there will come a time when your salary will be discussed.

How should I negotiate for a fair or higher salary?

Perhaps you’re led to believe that you can’t negotiate your paycheck or salary. If you’ve been working in a position where you’ve dedicated your time, energy, and skills for a considerable amount of time, you may be due for a raise.

Many companies have scheduled performance reviews where a raise may be inevitable, and all you have to do is continue doing your job until the time comes, eg. every 3 or 6 months, up to one year. However, this is not always the case and you may need to take initiative to get what you believe you deserve.

When is the right time or what is the right circumstance to ask for a salary increase?

There are 3 points to consider before asking for a raise or salary increase:

1. Assess your own performance.
It’s a skill to objectively look at yourself and your work performance. It’s easy to conflate what you do with what you think you deserve, when in reality they may not align. Ask yourself:

• Am I doing my best?
• Have I made any contributions to the success of the business?
• Have I made steps to consistently make improvements to my approach?
• Have my responsibilities changed or increased?

Asking these questions may help you determine whether you’re in the running to negotiate your salary.

2. Know the market rate for your position.
Salary secrecy is a thing of the past. It’s important to find out what others are getting paid in the same position to avoid getting underpaid. Do your research before asking for a raise or negotiating your salary, as you may or may not be already above or below the average salary for your position.

3. Be willing to make your case and potentially compromise.
The whole point of a negotiation is that you may have to counter a salary offer, or accept a different one than what you’re asking for. Reasons for this may be outside your realm of knowledge or control, including:
• the financial state of the company
• rejection based on performance or results you’re unaware of
• market salary rates

By knowing yourself and what to expect, you can avoid a disappointing conversation when it comes to salary negotiation.

Example of what to say when negotiating a salary increase

Typically, negotiating your salary or asking for a raise is an in-person conversation, and rarely happens over email. That being said, there may be cases where you need to be the one who initiates the idea of a salary increase for yourself, and it may be best articulated over email.

Here’s an example of how to ask for a raise or re-negotiate your salary if you already have a position and are looking for a salary increase:

Hi XX,

I’d like to schedule a meeting to discuss the possibility of a salary increase. I've done some research and have found that the salary range for my position in our industry and location is [salary range]. Given my experience and contributions to the company, I believe that an increase to my salary would be fair.

Since my last review, I have [list specific accomplishments, such as taking on new responsibilities, completing successful projects, receiving positive feedback from clients, etc.]. I feel that I have excelled at my current job responsibilities, which warrants a higher compensation.

I value my position here, and believe that a salary increase would not only reflect my contributions but also motivate me to continue delivering excellent results. Could we discuss the possibility of increasing my compensation to be more in line with the industry standards?

Thank you for your time, and I look forward to discussing this further with you.

Sincerely,
[Your name]

This email includes:
• a tactful and direct request for a meeting to discuss your salary
• background on market salary rates
• a list of contributions and accomplishments within the company
• reasons why a salary increase would be beneficial (eg. increased motivation)

Example of what to say when negotiating a hiring salary

But what if you haven’t been hired yet and want to make sure you’re going to get fairly compensated?

Here’s an example of how to negotiate your salary during the onboarding process when getting hired:

Dear XX,

Thank you for offering me the [role] with [company]. I'm thrilled to have received the offer and am excited about the opportunity to join your team.

After careful consideration, I would like to discuss the proposed salary for this position. While I appreciate the offer, I was expecting a salary in the range of [salary range], based on my research and experience in the field.

I am confident in my abilities and believe that my experience and qualifications align with the requirements of the role. In my previous positions, I was able to [provide specific achievements or results that demonstrate your value].

Given my experience and qualifications, I would appreciate your consideration of a higher salary offer in line with industry standards and my contributions to the organization.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to discussing this further and am looking forward to this opportunity to join your team.

Thank you,
[Your name]

In this example, we see:
• gratitude for the job offer
• a polite counter offer according to the writer’s experience and market rates
• continued interest in the position

Learn how to ask for an appropriate salary

Ultimately, it boils down to knowing your worth and taking initiative. If you can politely and tactfully explain why a salary increase is necessary, it shouldn’t be difficult to achieve.

Not every hiring manager or company will see eye-to-eye with you on this matter, and in those cases it may be best to cut your losses and find somewhere that does appreciate you.

As mentioned earlier, it’s also important to take a genuine look at your performance or expertise and let that speak for itself – for better or for worse.

Either way, go where your efforts are appreciated to avoid any financial resentment in the future.