Want a Raise? How to Talk to Your Boss About It

Admin Phed · · career-tips
Want a Raise? How to Talk to Your Boss About It

How to ask for a raise professionally: timing, preparing your results, an opening script, and what to do if the answer is no.

You've taken on more and more work all year and closed a big project on schedule, but your payslip still shows the same number. You have every right to ask for a raise, but walking in and telling your manager “I'd like more” rarely works. What works is preparing reasons your manager can take to senior management or HR.

Why preparation matters

In many organisations, your direct manager doesn't approve pay alone; they have to make the request further up. If you give clear information, such as measurable results and expanded scope, you make it easier for your manager to “sell your case.”

Good timing

Timing to avoid

Prepare in 3 steps

1. Gather results with evidence

List what you achieved over the past 6 to 12 months, with real numbers from your work. Example formats (hypothetical figures):

2. Research market pay

Look at similar roles on Plants.work Jobs, salary surveys from recruitment firms, and ask people in your field, so you know the range for a role and scope like yours.

3. Set your number as a range

Prepare a reasonable range with reasons, and know the minimum you'd be satisfied with. Read more techniques in How to negotiate your salary.

How to open the conversation

Ask for a dedicated meeting rather than raising it in the middle of a work meeting, for example: “Could I have 20 minutes this week to talk about my growth and compensation?”

“Over the past 12 months, I've been responsible for [tasks A, B] and delivered [results]. Based on market data, roles with this scope are usually in the range of [X to Y]. I'd like to ask you to consider adjusting my salary to reflect my current role.”

Hypothetical example: unprepared vs prepared

Unprepared: “I've been here two years, and the cost of living is high lately, so I'd like a raise.” The manager sympathises but has nothing to explain to senior management.

Prepared: “Since the start of the year, I've taken over extra clients after a junior teammate left, and improved our process so the team delivers faster. So I'd like to discuss adjusting my salary to match my current scope.” The manager now has both reasons and evidence to request approval.

If the answer is “not yet”

Don't get angry, and don't end the conversation there. Ask 3 follow-up questions:

  1. “What do I need to achieve to be considered in the next cycle?”
  2. “If salary can't change now, are there other options, such as a training budget, WFH days or a new title?”
  3. “When should we come back to this conversation?”

Summarise what you discussed in a short email to your manager so you share the same goals, then come back at the agreed time.

What not to do

Asking for a raise is nothing to be embarrassed about. If your results back it up, it's simply stating your value professionally.

Start today

  1. Open a results log and add to it every month
  2. Find market salary data from at least 3 sources
  3. Practise your opening line and your response to a no with a friend or a Mentor on Plants.work
  4. Book a conversation with your manager at the right time
  5. Send a summary email after every conversation

If several conversations bring no progress, it may be time to look at new opportunities on Plants.work Jobs, or to build skills that raise your value at Plants.work Learn.