How to Negotiate Your Salary and Get What You Deserve

Wondering how to negotiate salary with a current or prospective employer? It’s a difficult conversation to have—and one many employees would rather avoid having altogether. But think of it this way: Negotiating salary is all about making sure you're getting paid what you deserve. Most of us will have to deal with salary negotiation at some point in our careers, and it doesn’t have to be as intimidating as it sounds. 

Why negotiate on salary 

Perhaps the number one reason you should negotiate on salary is because you’ll probably get the raise. A 2024 study found that 82% of full-time workers who requested raises that year were successful in receiving them. Those are great odds! More importantly, you shouldn’t lowball yourself and your value. You know what you bring to your employer, and you deserve to be recognized and compensated for that.

There are many reasons to avoid asking for a raise. Perhaps you’re shy or worried about offending people. Or maybe you’re anxious. Remember that salary negotiations are not personal, and the worst thing the employer can say is no. If that happens, you’re no worse off than where you were yesterday. Honestly, there are more reasons why you should ask for a raise than reasons why you should not. 

With all the reasons to ask for a raise, there is one you should never bring up with an employer: Don’t negotiate by stating your personal reasons for needing more money. Extra expenses, such as childcare or a home mortgage, may be costly, but they should never factor into salary negotiations. 

Negotiating salary: When is the right time to do it?

Sometimes it’s clear when you should negotiate your salary. If a prospective employer makes a job offer, that’s a perfect time to negotiate, of course. While you may be asked for your salary expectations before then, avoid negotiating until there is an offer on the table.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for a raise at your current job, there are some circumstances when negotiating is more appropriate than others. Here are some of the best examples of when it makes sense to negotiate your salary. 

You’ve received another offer

The best leverage you have with your current employer is an offer from someone else. If a prospective employer offers you a better salary, tell your employer. It’s not unusual to bring a new offer to an employer to help advance you to the next level. In some industries, it’s even expected.

You’re being promoted

Most promotions come with a salary bump. But it’s still acceptable to ask for more money than your employer is offering. Just make sure you have evidence to back up your counteroffer. For example, you might say, “I really appreciate the promotion. I was hoping for a salary of X. As we discussed, I’ve done A, B, and C.”

You’re going above and beyond in your job

At many companies, employees are often promoted after a certain period of time, such as one or two years. This is less common in senior management positions, where there’s not as much room for advancement. However, if you’ve taken on responsibilities that weren’t initially part of the tasks you were hired to perform, there’s no reason why you can’t ask sooner.

Do be careful of asking too soon. For example, if you’ve only been at your job six months, you’re not going to get a raise and your manager will find your asking presumptuous. Waiting a year, at which time you’ll likely have a performance review, is a good rule of thumb, though it depends on your company and situation.

Read this next: More Responsibility at Work, Same Pay? Here's What to Do

How to negotiate salary: Key salary negotiation tips

Now that you know why and when to do it, It's time to learn how to negotiate salary. 

1. Do your homework

Make a list of your achievements, accomplishments, and areas in which you’ve gone above and beyond. If you have your job description available, consult it to remember what you’re doing that you weren’t expected to do initially.

Keep a list of praise colleagues and managers give you. It can help you express your value to your manager or prospective manager.

You might collate all these achievements into a list to bring to your meeting. This helps you remember everything you want to mention and also demonstrates that you’re confident in the amount you're asking for.

2. Rev yourself up

Build your own confidence before you head into salary negotiations. Practice saying what you need to say and consider rehearsing in front of a friend or trusted colleague. Make a list of reasons why you deserve this and say them aloud to yourself; if you don’t believe it yourself, then you’ll never convince someone else. Remember: You’re asking for a raise because you know you’re worth it!

3. Come up with your target salary and know where to set the bar

In most cases, mentioning a salary range rather than a specific number results in a higher salary. Do note that you’ve done extensive research and know that this is the range for people with similar experience and qualifications. If you mention a specific figure, you could be missing out on greater compensation since you might ask for a figure that’s too low.

You should also consider the minimum for which you’d settle. Don’t mention that number to the hiring manager or your boss, of course, but do keep it in the back of your mind. If what the employer is offering is just too low, it may not be worth it.

How to research and find the ideal number

Before you even broach the topic of salary negotiation, you need to understand your own value as an employee. That means finding out how much someone with your experience, qualifications, and title who works in a similar capacity and location is generally paid. Here are some tools to try:

Websites that collect salary data

Start by checking websites like the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Glassdoor, and Payscale. These sites collect data on people with the same title and industry across the U.S. and within certain locations so you can see how your salary compares and what you should ask for.

When you look at these ranges, think about your level of experience and qualifications as a worker. If you’re entry-level, you should be looking at the lower end of a salary range for a professional in the industry, while more experienced and qualified candidates should aim for the higher end.

Use salary calculators

Also, check out tools like Dice’s Salary Calculator, Salary.com’s Salary Comparison, and Glassdoor’s Know Your Worth. These tools give you estimates of your value as an employee based on location, title, years of experience, and other factors.

Read this next: These 10 Salary Calculators Make it Crazy Easy to Negotiate Your Pay

Reach out to industry colleagues 

It can be difficult—and even inappropriate in some contexts—to bring up salary with a coworker. However, if you have a trusted colleague who does similar work or has comparable professional experience, consider asking them for their thoughts on a reasonable salary for you to request. Just make sure to do so privately and avoid asking what they earn; if they volunteer it, it can be useful information to have, but respect that they may want to keep it private.

Likewise, ask industry colleagues and mentors outside of your company similar questions. Some people may be willing to volunteer their salary information, but mostly, you just want to know what they think an employee in your position is worth.

Remember to factor in your skills—both technical and soft skills—certifications, awards, company contributions, and level of education attained. (For example, in most industries, someone with a master’s degree can expect a higher salary than someone with a bachelor’s.)

Negotiating salary: The script you didn’t know you needed

In most scenarios, you’ll be negotiating salary in person or during a call if you’re asking for a raise from your manager. When you’re preparing to meet with your supervisor, take the following steps: 

1. Request and schedule a meeting. Tell your manager you’d like to meet and schedule a time that works for both of you. Make sure you allow a reasonable amount of time. You don't want the conversation to be rushed.

2. State your purpose for holding the meeting upfront. You want your manager to have time to request permission from the department head or HR. There might be other important considerations that they need to hash out as well. That’s why you should be upfront about what you want to discuss.

3. Gather your paperwork. Gather together any supporting documents, such as a one-sheet detailing your accomplishments and praise you’ve received, examples of your work, and any data you’ve collected about salaries of similar employees. Bring all these documents to the meeting.

4. Practice. If you’re nervous, prepare by stating what you want to say in front of a mirror or to a friend or trusted colleague. You want to ensure that you sound confident.

(For more detailed scripts, read our advice on what to say when negotiating.)

Get what you deserve

Salary negotiation is a normal part of the professional landscape, and approaching it with confidence and professionalism can lead to rewarding outcomes. Don't shy away from advocating for yourself—after all, you deserve to be compensated fairly for the value you bring to your employer.