How to Ask for a Raise

Be confident and prepared so you are able to sell your boss on the reasons why a raise is logical and deserved. Do research to ascertain what you’re worth in your geographic region given your length of time in your position and the quality of your performance, Ms. Mathews says. You can obtain this information from websites, such as GlassDoor or PayScale, or possibly from your human resources department or a professional network or organization.

Mr. Jennings

Write notes about why you’re raiseworthy, and then rehearse what you will say beforehand. “Do this out loud with someone else, or record yourself and play it back,” Ms. Mathews suggests. “See if you sound confident. Make your points quickly, and don’t ramble.”

Speak slowly, and listen to your boss’ reactions. Engage your boss in some small talk—sharing personal details helps put both of you at ease and makes it more likely that your boss will listen to your request. “You could say, ‘This is not easy for me. I’m not comfortable talking about myself or my accomplishments. But this is important to me.’” You could also acknowledge that this may not be a comfortable discussion for your boss.

Keep in mind that your boss may not be aware of your extra work or may take your reliability or high-quality performance for granted. Give some specific examples of when you have gone above and beyond, displayed excellent teamwork, received good reviews from patients, took on additional responsibilities and so forth, Ms. Mathews says.

Begin the conversation by saying something like, “Thank you for your willingness to meet with me today to discuss my pay. I sincerely enjoy working for this practice (then include a few things you value—such as the staff, patients, your work, the leadership or the work environment). I have done some research and found that I am being paid X percentage less than what I am worth in the market and less than what other organizations are paying. Given the value I bring to this organization, here is why I deserve an increase in pay.” Then state your list of reasons.

During the discussion, employ professional body language. Face your boss, and make eye contact. Avoid subjective statements, such as, “I think I’m due for an increase in pay,” or “I think my work has been very good.”

Getting a higher offer from another organization may help you negotiate a raise in your current position. However, you must be willing to accept the other job if your boss says that he or she cannot match the salary you have been offered.