What is an acceptable amount of money to ask for in a pay raise?

Question

If you were to come to my company and apply for my position you would be told that the pay is from $16-18 an hour. I think everyone actually starts at $16 though. I put in my resignation yesterday because my director is refusing to give me a pay raise. My immediate boss doesn't want to lose me. He asked me to come up with what my minimum accpetable would be so that he can take it even higher than the director to keep me. I told him I wanted my regular annual raise (3%) and an additonal $1 per hour. This will take me up to $17.50, the way I see it if that if the company sees me as one of the best in my position and a valuable asset I should be getting paid on the high end of the curve not the low end. This is my first civilian job (prior military) so I'm not sure if this is a silly way that i'm looking at things. Right now our company really does need me and I realize that, but how can i trust my company if those that run it aren't looking out for me right?

Well, that was the LEAST I was willing to accept. I told him I wanted to be making $20 an hour, but he said he'd start at that amount and wanted to know when it would no longer be acceptable to me so I said 1.50

Well, I realize that everyone is replacable, but I also know that it takes a lot of time, money and effort to train someone. my director told me that I accepted my job for the pay I was offered and I countered that the responsibilities and workload have changed so with that I want to be compensated for my extra effort. Yes, the military we only got about a 3% payraise per year, but I was bringing home over $600 every 2 weeks too. I am looking at it from both angles you know?

I mean over $600 more than what I'm making now every 2 weeks.

Answer 1

3% Raise is more than fair annually. Depending on the position, i usually give 5% annual raise, for the higher salaries this is scaled down but under $20, 3% is very reasonable. I looked at military scales for you, and it seems that 3.7% is the standard although it varies on position.

the washington post wrote an article stating Pres Bush set a standard of 3.44% increase for federal workers.

there was also another yahoo/answer post i found where some people addressed the same issue. I've linked it below.

Hope that helps and you make the right decision ;-) and vote my answer the BEST... ehheh

Answer 2

The company's procedure is actually very normal. You need to consider how long the typical employee takes to go from $16 to $18 per hour.

You mentioned that everyone probably starts at $16 per hour, and pay ranges up to $18 per hour. You get a regular, annual raise of 3%. That is a typical, cost of living increase amount. Asking for an additional $1 per hour is an extra 6.25%, for a 9.25% total raise. That is a very high raise, and honestly it is a lot to ask for. A close to 10% raise is only normal when you take on increased responsibilities.

If you are still doing the same job and not taking on new responsibilites, then 6% is more appropriate if your performance has been exceptionally above other employees.

If you work for the company for three years, and get increases of 4% each year, then your pay would be $18 per hour exactly. That is probably how the other employees making $18 per hour got to that amount. They probably did not get one big raise.

At most companies, the difference in annual raises for good performance and poor performance is only 2 or 3 percentage points.

Answer 3

Demanding a raise, even if you KNOW you are needed at a company is usually not a good idea. Most employers will see this as a person that isn't in it for the company, that wants to be demanding and in control and someone that thinks the company can't survive without out them. Not what you want management to think of you right?

Find a different job for the higher rate...and then go back and say...they are willing to pay the 17.50... are you willing to match it to keep me? They say no, you have an out. Do this before you have another offer and you might lose your job.

If you can't find a job for the higher rate... maybe there's a reason. Maybe you are already earning the going rate. (sorry if this isn't what you wanted to hear).

Answer 4

Instead of trying to come up with a figure you might be better off stating the reasons you feel you deserve a raise. For example, you consistently have a high volume of work, you stay late to get a job done, have saved the company money by implementing good ideas, don't take a lot of time off, have taken on extra responsibility for no more pay. Also, if you quit they will have to spend time training a replacement who may not be effective on the job for many months, thus costing the company more money. Give them good reason to give you a raise and then ask for your 3% plus a dollar.

Answer 5

I think anyone has a right to not work for less than they think they are worth. But keep in mind that there might be a lot of people that want your job. Though you do have an excellent point about your valuableness to the company and deserve to be compensated for your input. I think the amount of time that you have been there also plays a roll in the equation. If you have only been there 6 months, they may have a point, if you have been there two years, you have a point.

Answer 6

Start looking for another job if you want to make $20 per hour. They have stated their pay expectation, and unfortunately they probably will not bend that much. I once had an associate work for me in a position that made about $8 per hour, and told me that her career counselor told her she should be worth at least $15 an hour based on her skills. Unfortunately her supposed business skills had very little to do with the position she was hired to do, and she left shortly after. The company quickly replaced her with someone eager to make $8 an hour. Bottom line, if you think you are worth $20 per hour, find a job that utilizes the skills that make you worthwhile, and that is willing to pay for the work you do.

Answer 7

Inflation Rate+Rise in Experience Curve= Raise

Answer 8

3% is nothing. I would ask for at least a 7% raise. After taxes, it's not like you're going to be rolling in extra money. So you don't get a lot, and they don't have to give more than they want to.

Point being: A good compromise is when nobody's happy with the deal.

Answer 9

You make sense to me.

Contact the people at Market Place, and ask them this. I'm also thinking the Motley Fool might have something useful (and experience, don't let the name fool you, he's a Wall St. guru) on this.

Answer 10

no one looks out for you except you. 3% is acceptable.

You can't demand any sort of raise without appearing greedy.

If anyone can do your job for less than you do it, they will hire them. I suggest you take the 3 % and continue to look elsewhere if you feel you are underpaid.