How much of a raise should I ask for?

Question

Efri Dereje · Accepted Answer

Anchor on the market, not on a percentage of your current salary.

Because a percentage of an underpaid number is still underpaid. If you're 20% below market and you ask for 8%, you've successfully negotiated your way to still being behind.

So find out what the role pays now, and ask for that.

Rough shapes if you need them:

Internal raise, same role, good year:. 5–10% is a normal ask and often what's available.

Internal, taking on a bigger role:. 10–20%. You're being paid for a different job.

Moving companies:. 15–30% is common, and that's why people move.

Correcting an underpayment:. whatever the gap is. Make the case with market data, not with how long you've been loyal.

Ask for slightly above what you'd accept, so there's somewhere to land.

And time it. Right after you've delivered something visible, or at budget-setting, not three weeks after the budget closed.