How to Ask for a Raise (and Actually Get It)

A raise compounds for the rest of your career. Asking well is one of the most valuable money skills there is. A $4,000 bump this year isn’t just $4,000. It raises the base for every future percentage increase, every bonus calculated on salary and every retirement contribution matched as a share of pay. Over a few decades, one well-timed conversation can be worth more than years of clipping coupons. Yet many people never ask, or they ask in a way that’s easy to deflect. Research, timing and the sentence that works can change that.

This guide covers how to build your case, when to bring it up, what to actually say and how to respond if the answer isn’t yes. It’s written for salaried and hourly employees alike, and the ideas work whether you’re at a small business or a large company.

Do your homework

Look up pay ranges for your role and city, and list what you’ve delivered this year. Those two pieces of research form the backbone of your case. One tells you what the market pays. The other shows why you deserve to be at the right point in that range.

Know the market

Start by finding out what people in similar roles earn in your area. Salary survey websites, job postings that list pay ranges, professional associations and the Bureau of Labor Statistics can all help. A growing number of states now require pay ranges in job ads, which makes this easier than it used to be. Look for a range, not a single number, and note how your experience and responsibilities compare.

Know your results

Managers approve raises for impact, not effort. Go through your past year and write down concrete outcomes. Did you save the team time, bring in revenue, cut costs, train new hires or take on work above your title? Numbers help. “Reduced customer response time from two days to four hours” lands far better than “worked hard on customer service.”

Keep a running list going forward too. A simple note on your phone where you jot down wins as they happen makes next year’s conversation much easier.

Pick your moment

Before budgets are set, or right after a big win. Timing can matter almost as much as your case.

• Before budgets are set. Many companies plan salary budgets months before raises take effect. Asking during your annual review may be too late if the money is already allocated. Find out when your company plans its budget and start the conversation a month or two ahead.
• Right after a big win. When you’ve just finished a major project, landed a client or solved a visible problem, your value is fresh in your manager’s mind.
• When your role has grown. If you’ve absorbed responsibilities from a departed coworker or taken on a team, that’s a natural opening.

Avoid moments when your manager is overwhelmed, right after layoffs or during a company crisis. And always ask for a dedicated meeting rather than catching someone in a hallway.

What to say in the room

Preparation matters, but so does delivery. A clear, calm ask is far more effective than a long speech or an apologetic hint. Here’s a simple structure many readers have used:

1. Open with appreciation. Briefly note what you enjoy about the role and the team.
2. Share your results. Walk through two or three of your strongest accomplishments.
3. Reference the market. Mention that you’ve researched pay for similar roles in your area.
4. Make a specific ask. Name a number, ideally toward the upper part of a reasonable range.
5. Pause. Let your manager respond.

Say the number, then stop talking.

Rosa Jimenez, money coach

Rosa Jimenez, a money coach who writes for Good Cents, says the silence after the ask is where most people lose ground. They get nervous and start talking themselves down, offering to take less before anyone has even pushed back. Practicing that pause out loud ahead of time, she says, is often the difference between landing the number and settling for less.

A sample sentence might sound like this: “Based on what I’ve delivered this year and what the market pays for this role in our city, I’d like to discuss increasing my salary to $78,000.” Then stop. Keep your tone friendly and confident, not demanding.

If the answer is no, or not yet

Sometimes the answer is a firm no, sometimes it’s “not right now” and sometimes it’s a smaller number than you hoped. None of these have to be the end of the conversation.

Ask what it would take. A good follow-up is, “What would I need to accomplish for this to be a yes in six months?” Write down the answer and ask to put a check-in on the calendar. You can also explore other forms of value if salary is truly frozen: a title change, extra paid time off, a training budget, remote work days or a one-time bonus.

It also helps to know how to handle a counteroffer that lands below your ask. You don’t have to accept on the spot. A polite response such as “Thank you, I appreciate that. Can I take a day to think it over?” gives you room to consider it calmly. If the gap is small, you might ask whether the rest could come through a review in six months. If the gap is large, it’s fair to share your research again and explain why you believe the higher figure is reasonable. Either way, follow up afterward with a short, friendly email that summarizes what was discussed, including any numbers, dates or goals. That written record keeps everyone on the same page and makes the next conversation easier.

If you repeatedly hear no despite strong results and market data on your side, that’s useful information too. It may be a signal to quietly look at what other employers would offer. Many people find that the biggest pay increases of their careers come from changing jobs.

Key takeaway: A raise request is a business conversation. Bring evidence, name a number and leave with a next step either way.

Try this week

You don’t need to schedule the meeting today. You just need to start building your case so you’re ready when the right moment arrives:

• Write down three results you delivered
• Look up market pay for your role
• Practice your ask out loud

Practice really does help. Say your sentence to a friend, a partner or even your bathroom mirror. Practice the pause too. The first time you say a number out loud may feel awkward. By the fifth time, it will feel like a fact.

Small talk, big payoff

Asking for a raise can feel uncomfortable, especially if you were raised to believe that good work speaks for itself. Often it doesn’t, at least not loudly enough. Managers are busy, budgets are tight and the people who ask clearly tend to be the ones who get noticed.

Do your research, pick a smart moment, say your number and stop talking. Whatever the outcome, you’ll walk away knowing more about your value and your path forward. And when that raise does come through, consider sending part of it straight to savings before you get used to spending it.

This article is general education, not financial advice. Your situation is your own — talk to a licensed professional before big decisions.