How to ask for a raise

Plenty of people wait to be noticed. They work late, take on extra projects and hope the raise shows up on its own. Sometimes it does. Often it does not, because managers are busy and budgets go to the people who ask clearly.

Know your number

Before the conversation, research what your role pays in your area. Free sources include the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, salary pages on major job sites and job postings that list pay ranges, which several states now require. Write down a range and the specific number you will ask for.

Bring evidence, not effort

Managers respond to results. Make a short list of what you delivered in the last six to twelve months: money saved, revenue brought in, problems solved, people trained. Use numbers wherever you can. 'I cut our report time from two days to four hours' lands better than 'I work really hard.'

Pick the right moment

• Before budgets are set, often a few months before the end of the fiscal year.
• Right after a clear win, while it is fresh.
• In a scheduled one-on-one, never in a hallway or by surprise.

What to say

Keep it short and specific: 'I'd like to talk about my compensation. Over the last year I have taken on X and delivered Y. Based on that and on market data for this role, I'm asking for an increase to Z. What would it take to make that happen?' Then stop talking and listen.

If the answer is no

Ask what would change the answer and when you can revisit it. Get it in writing in a follow-up email. A clear 'not now, but in six months if you hit these goals' is a plan. If the door stays closed, that is information too: it may be time to look at what the wider market will pay.