{"id":13568,"date":"2025-11-20T02:12:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-20T08:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.discover.com\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/?p=13568"},"modified":"2026-02-02T12:29:32","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T18:29:32","slug":"how-to-ask-for-a-raise-at-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.discover.com\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/how-to-ask-for-a-raise-at-work\/","title":{"rendered":"How do I ask for a raise at work?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If the idea of asking for a raise at work makes you nervous, you\u2019re not alone. \u201cIt\u2019s money,\u201d says Jenn Smith, a career coach. \u201cPeople find it hard to talk about money.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey also fear rejection\u2014or worse, that they\u2019ll lose their jobs,\u201d says Ana Goehner, a bilingual career strategist. Plus, she adds, many people would simply rather avoid having to negotiate a new salary at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But none of those reasons should keep you from asking for a raise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI like to say that you are your chief career officer,\u201d Goehner says. \u201cDon\u2019t wait for someone else to see your value. If you don\u2019t advocate for yourself early, you may wait for a promotion for years. Managers promote those working the extra mile and those who show their work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In other words, if you\u2019re working hard and racking up on-the-job achievements and accolades, you might be due a pay bump. But you may wonder, \u201cHow do I ask for a raise at work?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While there is no single best way to ask for a raise, here are five tips aimed at helping you advocate for yourself and snag a salary increase:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Be strategic in your timing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Timing is critical when it comes to how to ask for a raise at work. Before you ask your manager to increase your salary, plan for the right moment. Prior to broaching the topic, you might also want to consider: How often should you get a raise?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The performance management cycle can clue you in to the right time to ask for a raise, according to Smith. Performance reviews typically occur anywhere from once to several times a year. Because most companies divvy out raises during the performance review period, Smith suggests getting on your supervisor\u2019s calendar about six to eight weeks prior to your next performance review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat way, you\u2019re bringing up the conversation about compensation at a time when it\u2019s happening more broadly at the organization,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Initiating the conversation well ahead of your next review gives your boss plenty of time to prepare for the pay-raise discussion. \u201cYou don\u2019t want to make it a surprise,\u201d Smith says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A little notice can also go a long way to strengthening the relationship between you and your boss. They\u2019ll likely appreciate that you didn\u2019t catch them off guard, which might make them more inclined to help you advance in your career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While you\u2019re thinking about timing, you also want to consider frequency. So, how often should you get a raise? Companies typically offer raises once a year, so keep that general time frame in mind as you consider when to make your next pay raise request.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Highlight your achievements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When considering how to ask for a raise at work, you want to highlight your strong performance in your role.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBring your achievements to the table,\u201d Smith says. \u201cYou don\u2019t want to say, \u2018Oh, I’ve been in this job for six months and I should get a raise.\u2019 You want to say something like, \u2018I’ve been in this job for six months; here are all the things I’ve accomplished. I’ve exceeded your expectations.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In other words, a compensation conversation is an opportunity to make the case for how valuable you are to the company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your professional wins will be determined by your industry and job role, but as much as you can, Goehner says, you want to underscore the ways you went beyond your basic responsibilities and achieved something significant. \u201cYou want to ask for a raise when you know you performed well,\u201d Goehner says.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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\u201cDon\u2019t wait for someone else to see
\nyour value. If you don\u2019t advocate for yourself early, you may wait for a promotion for years.\u201d<\/p>\n