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Melissa Phipps is a retirement planning and investing expert who has covered those topics for more than 20 years as a writer, editor, and author. Her writing has appeared in Worth, Financial Planning, Financial Advisor, The American Lawyer, Institutional Investor, and many other publications.
Updated on May 4, 2024 In This Article In This Article
You want a raise and feel you deserve one. What's the best way to get an increase in your pay? If you can make a strong case for a salary increase, it may help to put a formal request in writing.
Asking for a raise is not only difficult, it can be dangerous if you say the wrong thing. A well-phrased request, on the other hand, can help you get the salary increase you would like. Your letter can help support your argument while keeping you from tripping over your words in person.
It can be easier to request a salary increase in writing than having a conversation about your compensation because you'll have more time to prepare your case and structure your argument.
A letter is also a record documenting the request should it be denied. Having this written record can help in the event your request is reconsidered in the future. It also removes any question of your boss potentially not taking the request seriously.
Below are tips and example letters to help you get the raise you want—and deserve.
A salary increase request should be addressed to the person who manages your raises and bonuses. That may be your supervisor, manager, or the head of your department.
It is generally not a good idea to go above the person who makes salary decisions for your team. If you don’t trust your direct manager, the letter will help keep the process professional.
Before you send a letter asking for a salary increase, make sure the timing is right. For example, if you know the company is doing well, your boss is pleased with your work, and sufficient time has elapsed (at least a year or more, depending on company culture) since your last salary raise, then all signs point to go.
At some companies, raises are discussed during year-end performance reviews or given out around the close of the fiscal year. If that's the case at your company, aim to start the conversation in advance of these dates, especially if you know you'll be getting a positive evaluation.
Timing-wise, it's helpful to ask for a raise shortly after completing a big project or task successfully. This is especially true if it's something that earned you praise or increased your visibility in the company.
If there have been recent layoffs or financial troubles in the company, or if regular salary raises are part of an annual performance review that is months away, it may not be the right time to make your case for an unplanned increase. However, it may still be appropriate to ask when you might expect the company to consider requests for raises again.
Otherwise, here are some potential reasons why you may not get the salary increase you're seeking.
Before you start writing, gather resources that will help you justify a raise in salary:
If you believe you are being paid less than you are objectively worth, it’s important to include examples. Do some research on pay rates for your job or similar jobs in your industry through salary calculators available on websites like Payscale.com, Glassdoor.com, or Salary.com. Additionally, take a look through the company's active job postings to see if they include any salary ranges within the listings for your role or any that are similar.
Avoid complaining or victimization, particularly if the company has been going through rough times. Assume that things are tough all around, but explain why your work stands out.
Do not include any personal insights about the salaries of coworkers. Focus instead on your value in your role and your value to the company.
Your time at the company is not a justification for a raise, nor are your personal financial circumstances. Stay away from these unpersuasive arguments.
If you think the time is right, below is a sample salary increase request letter that can be used as a guideline when you write your own customized letter.
The letter should be formatted and written formally. The example letter below is intended to be sent in hard-copy form. However, if it is being emailed, which is becoming increasingly common, you can remove the date and address for yourself and the employer, and begin the letter with the greeting.
Download the salary increase letter template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online) to use as a starting point for your own letter.
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Taylor Employee
95 Park Lane
Anderson, CT 00880
445-435-0000
janed@emailexample.com
Arthur Boss
XYZ Company
23456 Broad Street
Stamford, CT 00834
[use above for hard-copy letter only]
I am writing to formally request a review of my current salary. As an Account Executive with 5 years at Acme Corporation, I have always been ready and able when asked to take on additional work and new job responsibilities. I believe a review of my track record with the company, my recent achievements, along with industry average salaries, will demonstrate justification for an increase of at least 10% in my annual pay.
My role has evolved since starting with Acme Corporation. Added duties now include staff management, budget decisions, and project management. In the past year, I have distinguished myself with the following accomplishments:
Further, the average annual salary for my position is $65,000, according to data from Payscale.com. This is more than 12% higher than my current salary of $58,000. A 10% raise in salary would put my compensation in line with industry and regional expectations for the work.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I am willing to work with you to accommodate my request along with what is best for the company. If you have another amount in mind or a plan to increase my salary in the future, I am open to negotiation.
Signature [for hard copy letter]
Be aware of timing. Time your request to coincide with when you have the optimal chance of getting a positive response.
Prepare your request. Take the time to research what you're worth in the job market so you can show your manager why you should be considered for a raise.
Have a discussion. If possible, ask for a meeting to discuss your letter and compensation. It's easier to have an in-person discussion than it is to go back and forth via email.
