I got promoted to a people manager last year, and I am now managing who were my peers.

I got promoted to a people manager last year, and I am now managing who were my peers. I found out I was previous underpaid when compared to my peers, and leadership bumped me up as much as they could, but still underpaid for the manager band level. New members are joining my team, earning almost the same as me, despite me being still a higher band and in a manager role. (The new people are greater, but they are without a technical skill that may justify the higher salary). I brought this up with my director early when I started the position, and told them I will bring it up again at annual performance review.

I am grateful for the opportunity, but it is hard to know I am putting all the extra work as manager while people reporting to me almost earn the same with less responsibilities.

I am up for review in a couple of weeks, and despite multiple external challenges, I would say it was a decent year. Should I expect to get aligned to the current manager salary, and if not, decide to search for something else? It is not about a number, more like self-respect. If they would have hired from outside, they would have paid a much higher wage, so I find it frustrating they are lowballing me.

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8 Comments

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  1. Shannon Lavender

    Keep pushing for the salary increase. If they still won’t budge, go elsewhere. It’s a really hot market now and you will not have any problem finding another management role.

  2. Megan Russell

    I agree, Shannon! It is definitely an employee's market right now. Know your worth, and don't be afraid to go somewhere else to get it.

  3. Robyn McCabria Kelso

    No expert in salary negotiation here, but keep pushing for what you want. Go in armed with facts and figures and that may help boost your argument. Good luck!

  4. Anonymous

    As a manager, I always pushed hard during annual reviews to "fix" salary discrepancies the best I could. Know that if they promoted you, they like you and are vested in you too. Sometimes there is only so much a manager can do from a bump perspective but they know it is an issue and they should continue to do what they can as long as you are performing. We need to enjoy the work we do and not let salary sometimes get in the way of our happiness. I hope they continue to push for you.

  5. Anonymous

    I work for a fortune 500 company ( and 2 others in the past) and will spell out the processes I am familiar with around pay.

    If you hire in low and get promoted from within you will still probably never equal a new hire into the position you have been promoted. Most companies have a salary band/range and the will try to hire at about 75 to 80% of the Market rate ( that is usually the top end). For those who are promoted into a role, most companies have maximum percent they will increase a salary by - usually 7%. If your current salary plus the percent increase for promotion is still less than the lowest end of the range, they will usually not put you in the position or will arrange for a market adjustment raise to get you up to a point they can promote you to the next level and your salary will fit into the band. It is very important as annual merit raises occur to understand the market rate of your position and where you fall to understand what are your next steps.

    Example: say you make $50,000 per year and the position you want has a salary range of 60,000 to 80,000 per year even with a bump of 7% your new salary would only be 53,500 well below the range. Some companies will just give you the promotion and 7% increase, but if they have to go out to market to hire anyone they know it will be a minimum of $60,000 to get in the door and they may even pay as high as $80,000 for the new hire.

    I had an awesome employee and as part of succession planning and talent reviews we knew we wanted him promoted, but we couldn't do the promotion right away. We ended up with a merit increase in June, a market increase in September, Market increase in April, Merit increase in June and promotion in July. It took this long and that many increases to get his salary within a range to promote him. The sad part is new hires could still be hired in at more than he was making. He and I had a long talk and he knew in order to level the playing field that he was going to have to leave to make more money and gain additional skills and knowledge. He received several offers for significantly more money and I couldn't match. Now they have posted his position and you guessed - we are having to look to pay people more than he was making.

    I know it isn't fair and smaller companies have some additional leeway than larger companies especially if they don't have to provide salary transparency.

    If you want to ask for additional money - see if you can understand your current companies annual increases, market pay, etc. You have people reporting to you now so this should have been covered with you so you know what you will be doing during reviews and merit raise discussions. How do they level the playing field? while you are trying to understand your companies process start creating a job description of your responsibilities/activities ( your value add) then find job postings resembling what you do - see what is the range. Then prepare how you want present your request and support for additional money and go for it. But also know they may not be able or not willing to budge. If you do not receive enough of a raise you need to be prepared and ready for your next steps.

    Good luck to you

  6. Anonymous

    Keep pushing, especially in this market.

  7. Echo Schneider

    Be sure to come prepared at your annual review to support the work you are doing, successes you have done, etc. ALWAYS document throughout the year what you are succeeding in, feedback from others, etc. so that when it's time to give your feedback on your performance, it's all ready to go.

  8. Anonymous

    Unfortunately, what you have described is typical in corporate America. Companies hirer you at the best salary at your moment in time, merit increase are typically 3-5% per year and with promotion it's more of a title change with greater responsibility, the reward is increase knowledge and skillsets. This is a slippery slope with leadership, inquiring about it will only frustrate all parties involved because aligning you to the correct pay will not be possible, and you will be profiled as an outcast, no longer committed to the company culture and creating disruption. The good news the team will increase your pay but for compensation for your current job description will not happen unless you separate from the company. I would suggest you spend time on certifications and resume & interview techniques to increase your pay in the competitive marketplace prior to leaving. Everyone I have encountered has improved compensation at least 35% exiting the company for greener pastures. And also remember money is not everything, you may have the pay but inherit toxic environment so please do your research of new company for favorable outcome.

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