A $5,000 raise sounds nice. Over a career, with normal raises compounding off it, that single ask can be worth $300,000+.
If you have ever stared at a number on a form and wondered where it came from, you are not alone. A $5,000 raise sounds nice. Over a career, with normal raises compounding off it, that single ask can be worth $300,000+.
Future raises are usually percentages of current salary. A 10% bump on a higher base perpetuates the gap forever.
Median pay for your role + city, range for your years of experience, your company's recent comp letters.
Always state a range, with your target near the top. Lowballers settle low; high anchors settle high.
Equity, sign-on bonus, vacation days, remote flexibility, professional development budget. Often easier to win than base.
What if I'm a new grad? Negotiate anyway. Even $2,000 on a starting salary is worth tens of thousands long-term.
Is it rude to negotiate? No. Hiring managers expect it. Polite, prepared and specific wins.
Whatever number you land on, sanity-check it against a second method or a quick estimate in your head.