15 Tips to confidently ask for a raise you deserve | Earnest | Earnest

15 Tips to Confidently Ask For a Raise You Deserve

By Corey Buhay | Published on October 21, 2025

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Feeling underpaid is incredibly frustrating—especially if you’re battling a high cost of living or costly student loans. It’s also incredibly common. According to a recent survey by FinanceBuzz, as many as 41% of Americans believe they aren’t being paid enough. But while some companies offer merit raises once per year like clockwork, many managers wait for you to ask, even if they do have the funds to pay you more. That means that if you haven’t asked for a raise recently, you could be leaving money on the table.

For some industries, low pay is a holdover from the post-pandemic economic slump. But as interest rates drop, the economy begins to recover, and wages are projected to rise, now could be the ideal time to ask for a pay increase.

Getting ready to ask for a pay raise can feel like interviewing for a job, but it is an incredibly important part of advancing at work. Advocating for yourself and your work is a great skill to build, and earning more earlier in your career is a strong way to build up your retirement savings. Similar to an interview, you will want to go into this discussion ready to make your case, informed about the figure you are aiming for, and with responses handy if your boss says yes or no. Here’s how to ask for a raise with confidence.

When to ask for a raise at work

Picking the wrong moment to ask for a raise could harm your chances, so it is important to time this discussion well. Some opportunities occur naturally, while others are planned in advance by the company.

Understand your company’s review schedule

Does your company have a rigid review cycle for salary check-ins? Great, you have a deadline to work. You can also be confident that your manager will expect you to ask at that time, so you won’t feel like you’re springing it on them. When in doubt about the review cycle, ask human resources for guidance.

Consider how long it’s been since your last raise

Were you granted a raise within the last six months? If your workload or job title hasn’t changed significantly in that time, you might want to hold off if you are reviewed more than once a year. It is a good idea to keep track of your accomplishments during this time. That way, when you’re past the year mark and ready to ask for a raise again, you’ll have a long history of your excellent work to show off at your next raise discussion.

After completing an important project or title change

If you’re taking a victory lap after a major achievement at work, you might consider scheduling a discussion for a one-time bonus or raise discussion. This can be a good way to capitalize on your success and your manager’s happiness with your work.

If your company only discusses raises at set times, make a note of this achievement so you have it handy for a future compensation discussion.

How to prepare to ask for a raise at work

Before you ask for more money, make sure you have a solid case ready for your manager. This will require some research and preparation but think of it as investing in your future salary.

Reflect on your recent work

Look back at projects that you have completed since your last compensation review. Be sure to highlight those where you went above and beyond expectations. Quantifying your work will also help your boss more clearly see the value you are adding to the company. Review your job description, as well, to make sure it reflects the work you did in the past year, or if it demonstrates that you’ve been working above and beyond.

If you’ve pursued more education — like a master’s degree — or expanded your skill set in the past year, that could also help you justify getting paid at a higher level. Make sure to bring this up in your discussion.

Salary research and knowing your market value

Are you making the market rate for your current role in your city? Take a look at other roles with similar responsibilities that are hiring at this time. See what kind of payscale they offer and how that compares to your current salary. You can also use Glassdoor’s salary calculator to see the salary range other companies are offering. This will give you a clear target to aim for when asking for a raise.

If you are already making more than the average salary for someone in a similar role in your area, keep this in mind when asking for a raise. In this case, you might actually consider looking for a change in role at your company, not just a salary adjustment.

Solicit feedback from your manager and peers

Beyond including your quantified performance, you might also want to get qualitative feedback, as well. Ask your coworkers for feedback on your recent performance and include those quotes in your raise discussion.

You could also pull comments from your most recent performance review with your boss to help support your position. This is one way to remind your boss that they have valued your work for a while and that your request is based on their own feedback.

Offer to take on additional responsibilities

If there is a way to expand your role to justify a higher salary, consider adding this to your raise discussion. This could also be a great way to take on new responsibilities and grow professionally. If you are looking to take on significantly more or different responsibilities, consider asking about a change in role, not just a salary adjustment.

How to ask for a raise during your performance review

You’ve done all your research, you have a number in mind, and you have a clear list of reasons why you deserve this raise. But even if you’re prepared, you might still be nervous about having this discussion. Here are some key points to remember when defending your case.

Stay positive and enthusiastic

Asking for a raise can be uncomfortable, but if you set the tone by being positive and enthusiastic about the work you have been doing, you can help alleviate some of the awkwardness. Share what you are excited to achieve at the company going forward, and remind your boss that you are invested in this role. That way, they’ll be motivated to invest in you.

Focus on the future and your goals

Make sure you are on the same page about what this raise would mean for your workload. Is this an adjustment based on the years of experience of work you are already doing, or are you asking to take on more tasks with this raise? If you’re taking on more tasks, will that move your career in the direction you’d like it to go? It is important to be on the same page as your boss and highlight what you are excited to accomplish in the coming year. If you’re not sure, find a parent, mentor, or trusted adult you can go to for career advice. They might be able to help you find your path.

Be prepared to answer questions about your work and your value

Don’t be caught off guard if your boss asks, “Why do you deserve this raise?” Pretend you only have 30 seconds to summarize all of your work and hit your key reasons right away. Also be ready with details in case your boss asks follow up questions.

This question usually isn’t because your boss doesn’t think you deserve a raise. It is because they need a clean list of reasons to write down when they request a further budget for your raise. Make their job easier by having an answer handy.

If you are asked to go into details, make sure you have your quantitative and qualitative data memorized. What are the key data points behind your achievements? What feedback did you get from your boss and coworker recently? Use specific and recent accomplishments that your boss can recall as well.

Be specific with your desired salary

Try to choose a number that feels relatively reasonable, but also commensurate with the amount of extra work you’re doing (or would like to do) and what you feel you’re worth. If you’re struggling to pay off your student loans, mortgage, or other expenses, also consider what kind of an increase would make a meaningful difference to you. Look at your budget, crunch some numbers, and calculate your figure from there.

Keep in mind that this kind of goal-setting and financial planning work is personal — it’s not necessarily stuff you should mention in your meeting. Keep your raise discussion strictly professional. Mention only reasons for your raise that are related to work, and not personal reasons that you might be looking to make more.

Let your boss make the first offer

You may not want to start off the discussion by asking for a huge sum of money point-blank, but you also don’t want to draw a blank if your boss asks you what you are hoping for. If you open with a specific figure, your manager will likely negotiate down from there. Instead, you might wait to see what your boss is able to offer first, and then see how close that is to your goal salary. If it’s higher, great. If not, try to negotiate up.

It is also important to know what a 10, 15, or 20% raise would mean in dollar terms before the meeting. Your boss might say “We are able to offer you a 15% raise at this time,” and you don’t want to be doing mental math on the spot.

Consider asking for other benefits beyond salary increases

You should always have a plan B if a raise is not an option at this time. Your boss might really want to show that your work is valued, but not have the budget for a salary increase. There are other perks you could ask for, including:

Some employers also offer student loan payment or refinancing assistance as an employee perk. These may not be an option for every role. Consider which would not only be a benefit to you, but could work at your company.

Mention any competing offers

If you’ve been approached by recruiters or have received an offer for a new job at another company, that can be another important bargaining tool. Your company may be willing to match a competing job offer by meeting the competitor’s proposed salary. If you do bring up a competitor’s offer in your meeting, make sure to emphasize that you’re dedicated to your current company and would love to stay if they can work with you on salary. Keep your tone and body language polite and earnest, and try to avoid sounding dissatisfied or combative.

Be prepared to hear no

You may present an airtight case for why you deserve a raise, and the answer could still be no. Take this result with grace, and politely ask why a raise is not possible at this time. Understanding what is working against you is the first step in setting yourself up for a successful salary discussion in the future.

This mature and measured approach is also a way to show your boss that you can keep cool even when things don’t go your way. That’s always an admirable quality in a coworker, and could earn you brownie points for the future.

What to do after your raise discussion

No matter the outcome of your salary discussion, you don’t want to slack off now. If you got the raise you worked hard to earn, you have to continue to prove that your boss made the right decision. If you didn’t get the raise, then you need to show the value you add and set yourself up for future salary negotiation.

Be prepared to negotiate

If your manager has proposed a salary that doesn’t match the number that you were aiming for, don’t settle right away. Understand why they are proposing a lower figure and where that fits among the industry standards in your area. Maybe there is an opportunity to “ladder up” to your desired salary over a set time period. Ask your manager what they would need to see from you to get to that desired number.

Create a plan with your manager to get the salary you desire

If it was a failed raise conversation, it is important to understand why and make a plan for future success. Set clear and defined goals with your boss to help you reach your desired salary.

If variables were out of your control, it is still important for your boss to know that you had worked hard and deserved further compensation, even if they are not in a position to grant it at this time. It might be that you will need to be promoted to earn more, and they can keep you in mind for future opportunities.

It is also up to you if you want to stay at this company after a failed compensation discussion. Moving on to a new company might be the best option for your career progression. Knowing what is blocking your raise will help you make an informed decision on whether to stay put or start up the job search.

How to free up your budget if you don’t get a raise

If you’re struggling to pay your student loans, mortgage, or other expenses, and you didn’t get the salary increase you were hoping for, there are still things you can do to relieve your financial stress. First, take a hard look at your budget and see if there are any expenses you can cut. Consider taking on a side hustle or part-time job, getting a roommate to help you cover rent, eliminating unnecessary subscription services, or rethinking the way you spend time with friends. If you’ve done that and you’re still drowning in student debt, it may be time to consider refinancing.

Student loan refinancing is a financial tool you can use to replace your current student debt with a brand-new loan. If you meet your new lender’s eligibility requirements, you could even score a lower monthly payment, a lower interest rate, or both. Ready to see how much you could save? Check your rate with Earnest for free today. Then use our refinance calculator to see what your new monthly payment might look like.

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About the Author

Corey Buhay

Corey Buhay is a writer and editor based in Boulder, Colorado. She’s passionate about literature, the outdoors, and doing her taxes by hand. She has been writing about student loans and personal finance for Earnest since 2019. You’ll find her work in Outside Magazine, Backpacker Magazine, Smithsonian, and The Denver Post.