How To Ask For A Raise U.S

• Katie Hunter
• September 21, 2022
• Career Guide Article

Have you ever thought about asking for a raise? Read this article to put yourself in the best situation!

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You love your job but are looking for more compensation. Do you know when the appropriate time might be to ask for a raise from your employer?

 

Recently AgCareers.com polled over 600 people with the question, “How do you feel about asking your boss for a raise?” Of the respondents, 39% said they have asked for a raise in the past, 37% said that they’d never ask and 22% said they ask annually.

 

Current employment trends show that now, more than ever, companies are looking closely at employee retention and keeping their staff happy.

 

Many employers know that employee satisfaction is closely connected to compensation levels. Research has shown that as companies are returning to the office or shifting to a hybrid model, there are some employees that are taking this opportunity to make a career shift or change. If you are feeling like now is the right time to make a change, and your reason for the shift is only based on opportunities for increased compensation, now might be the right time to discuss opportunities with your employer.

 

When considering asking for a raise, consider and evaluate these factors:

 

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH THE COMPANY?

 

If you recently joined the company and are already considering asking for a raise, hold off until you have proven yourself and the value you bring to the company. Onboarding a new employee takes time and resources, and the company will want to see that you are capable and committed before raising your salary.

 

IS THERE AN ANNUAL REVIEW PROCESS?

 

If the company you work with has an annual salary review or performance review program, this could be a good chance to discuss option for increases or incentives with your boss. Some employers only offer raises at the annual performance review.

 

DO YOUR RESEARCH

 

Is the salary you are currently making in line with industry standards? Are you making the same as your colleagues in similar roles? Industry salary surveys like the AgCareers.com Compensation Benchmark Review can offer salary data to employers to help them ensure they are offering competitive wages to their employees.

 

BOOK A MEETING

 

If you’ve decided that you are going to ask your employer for a raise, schedule time for a meeting with your manager to have this discussion; don’t bring it up in a group setting or at an inappropriate time.

 

PREPARE

 

Expect potential pushback; while you have thought about why you might deserve a raise and the value you add to your team and the company, if you didn’t give your employer advance notice, this might be something they need to process and think about and potentially get approved. If you come into your meeting well prepared with facts about deliverables or increases in revenue or results that you have brought to the team and the WHY you deserve a raise, this will give them more of the information they might need to approve your request.

 

BE PATIENT

 

Understand that while this increase that you are looking for is a priority item for you, there might be certain approvals that are required for them to make these changes.

 

NOT RIGHT NOW

 

Your employer may not offer you an increase at this time; prepare yourself for this response. Be open to the fact that while this isn’t the result that you are hoping for, they might not be able or willing to provide an increase even though you requested it.

 

SALARY STATS

 

Each employer and company work differently in terms of how they give raises. Some might give a certain percentage increase annually to all employees, some might have incentive bonuses based on performance, and some might only offer raises to a select group of employees each year.

 

When AgCareers.com polled over 400 subscribers about their raises, there were mixed results. Twenty-six percent of respondents said the employer reviewed their salary annually, 25% said their salary increased annually, 24% said their raise was based on performance and the other 25% said their work didn’t provide raises.

 

We can contrast this, however, with recent results from the 2022-2023 AgCareers.com Agriculture and Food HR Review, an annual survey of employers in the industry. Over 60% of U.S. employers said that ‘all’ staff would receive raises in the next year, and 34% said ‘some’ staff would receive raises.

 

POSITIVE ATTITUDE

 

Your employer will notice and recognize the positive attitude and impact that you bring to your team. While not all employers can offer everyone on their team an increase each year, the employees that are strong contributors and have a great mindset will be the first ones on the list when increases are available.