How To Ask for a Higher Raise After Your Review
For many of you, it’s that time of year again – performance review season and what tends to be a common question, how to ask for a higher raise after your review. Typically, we see an uptick in reviews during January/Q1 to match more company’s fiscal year. If you believe your recent performance review merits a bigger salary increase, you’re not alone. Sometimes, an initial raise may not reflect the full value of your contributions—especially if you’ve taken on added responsibilities or outperformed expectations.
Write an Accomplished-Focused Email:
One of the best ways to start the conversation of a possible re-analysis of your raise is by sending an email and within the email, asking for a meeting to discuss. Find below a template you can use.
Sample 1:
Hello [Manager/Leader’s Name],
Firstly, I truly appreciate my change in compensation for 2025, I am honored to work for such an incredible organization and am proud to have been part of the team for last year’s success and continued growth.
Admittedly, I was hoping for a larger increase for the following reasons:
1. Achievement 1
2. Achievement 2
3. Achievement 3 – Something that stands you out from your peers like managing the largest accounts, working off-hours frequently, completed additional training/certifications, etc.
Given my demonstrated value and contributions, including taking on X [program that you turned-around, complex initiatives, etc.], I believe a salary increase of [X%] would better match the current market rate for my role and my level of performance.
I am confident that we can come to a mutually beneficial agreement and would like to schedule a meeting to discuss in-person.
Thank you for considering my request.
Regards, [or preferred Salutation}
[Your Name]
Sample 2:
Hello [Manager/Leader’s Name],
I appreciate the opportunity to meet and discuss my performance during our recent review. I am grateful for the raise I received; however, upon reviewing my contributions over the past year, I would like to request reconsideration of my salary increase.
During 2024 I have:
- [Highlight key accomplishments or projects]
- [Explain how you contributed to team/company goals]
- [Mention any positive feedback or quantifiable results]
Given these achievements and the added responsibilities, I have taken on, I believe a higher raise would be more aligned with my contributions. I would welcome the chance to further discuss the value I bring to the team and explore a fair adjustment that reflects both my performance and the market standards for my position.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to discussing this with you at your earliest convenience.
Regards, [or preferred Salutation}
[Your Name]
What’s Important to Pay Attention To
You will want to reflect on timing prior to asking. For example, how is your employer doing and what was their performance last year? Are there budget cutbacks or layoffs looming? Did they have a stellar year?
Additionally, you will need to dive in and gather market data and salary trends to ensure you are confident in what is fair. I recommend reviewing resources like Indeed Salaries, job postings with salary ranges listed for specific titles, Glassdoor, and platforms like Salary.com. You will also need to adjust your findings based on factors like education, years of experience, certifications, or unique skill sets.
Prior to sending the email, I always recommend ‘sleeping on it’ for a day/multiple days. Oftentimes these can be emotionally driven and with quiet reflection you may realize it is fair. Typical raises range from about 2-5% but it all depends on industry-specific trends, inflation and economic conditions, and company-specific challenges/results.
Lastly, make sure you stay professional during the meeting, rehearse your pitch for a higher raise, make sure your wins are documented (and accurate), and finally, be open to hearing ‘no.’ The answer of ‘no’ may open future negotiations such as, ‘can we reevaluate in 6 months?’
Best of luck if you decide to ask for a higher increase than what you received! Make sure you check Simply Great Resumes Blog Page to other career-related articles!