salary

Everything you need to know about salary — how to figure out what you should be earning, how to negotiate it, what to do if you’re lowballed, and much more.

what to do if you’re turned down for a raise or promotion

So you put together a compelling case for a raise or promotion, pitched it to your manager, and got turned down. What are you supposed to do next? 1. Don’t take it personally. Yes, it might sting to hear that your manager or company doesn’t want to recognize your work with a pay increase or […]

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should I worry that I’m being overpaid?

A reader writes: I hesitate to ask this question because it reminds my girlfriend who complains about being too skinny (and I just want to deck her), but here goes: I started working for a for-profit corporation after years of working for nonprofits. My current salary at the for-profit was already a significant raise from […]

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when do I start negotiating salary?

A reader writes: I have a question about negotiation. For context, I should mention that I’m currently a teacher whose salary and benefits are set by our union contract. Negotiation hasn’t really been a factor for me in the past, because we can’t individually negotiate on much. Next week, I have an interview for a […]

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refusing more work unless you get a raise or promotion

This was originally published on November 20, 2012. A reader writes: Can and how do I professionally decline additional duties/ responsibilities unless I receive a pay raise or promotion? Background: I’ve been in the same position for almost 4 years. I’ve been promised multiple pay raises (including to bring me up to industry standard), which […]

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should you always negotiate salary?

A reader writes: I received a job offer for more than I expected. I had told them my range earlier in the process, and they came in a little over that. I’m thrilled!  I know that I’m supposed to always negotiate, but does that hold true when I’m happy with their initial offer? I feel weak […]

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7 questions to ask yourself before asking for a raise

Thinking about asking for a raise? Before you do, make sure that you’ve positioned yourself as strongly as possible for a yes, by asking yourself these seven questions. 1. How long have I been in this job? Typically you should be in a job for one year before you ask for a raise. Exceptions to […]

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what’s wrong with “do what you love,” how employers can get your salary history, and more

A few miscellaneous things — 1. Advice for employers who want job candidates’ salary history I love this article from Suzanne Lucas (of evilhrlady.org). Her editor sent her my article on how job seekers can avoid giving out their salary history, and suggested that Suzanne write an article telling hiring managers how to get candidates to […]

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how much money do you make, part 2

When I asked people last week to anonymously share how much money they make, I had no idea that we’d get nearly 2,000 responses. A lot of people suggested putting the data in a spreadsheet or other format that would allow us to group it by categories or otherwise make it more useful. This is […]

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should you ever negotiate salary through email?

A reader writes: I am in the midst of negotiating salary for a new position. My sister recently completed a salary negotiation through email, and suggested I do the same. We are in slightly different situations, as she accepted an offer from an academic institution and my potential employer is a private sector company. What […]

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