Raises and promotions
How to ask for a raise, and what to say when your boss pushes back
Ask in a meeting booked for it. Name one number or percent, back it with two results from this year, then stop and let your boss answer. Expect to hear that the budget is set. If the answer is not now, leave with a date and the criteria in writing.
When to ask for a raise
Ask while next year's raise budget is still being set. In Mercer's July 2026 survey of 1,001 US employers, 87% said their 2027 salary budgets were still preliminary.
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Before the budget is final
Learn your company's budget cycle and ask before the fiscal year ends, as a USC Career Center expert advises. Montana State University Billings' guide notes that HR can tell you when raises are given.
Ask HR“When are raises for next year decided?”
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After a result you can point to
Ask soon after you reach a milestone or beat an important goal, and write the details down first, Indeed's career guide says.
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At your review, or between reviews
A review is a natural time, since you'll already be talking about your work, but you can ask between reviews too. In the same Mercer survey, 64% of employers said they have given or will give off-cycle pay adjustments in 2027.
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Not during layoffs or a freeze
If the company is laying people off or tightening its belt, wait. The USC expert says financial turmoil makes it the wrong time to ask for more money.
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Six months into a new job, at the earliest
MSU Billings' guide says to wait at least six months after you start.
How much of a raise to ask for
Surveys of US employers published in 2026 put raise budgets for 2027 at about 3.5%. Use that as context, then set your own number from what the role pays and what you delivered.
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The Conference Board, September 2026
Employers are generally budgeting 3% to 4% for base-pay raises in 2027, with a median of 3.5%, the same as in 2026. The median merit budget is 3.1%.
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Mercer, August 2026
Its survey of 1,001 US employers found plans for merit raises of 3.2% and total raises of 3.5% in 2027, roughly what they reported giving in 2024, 2025 and 2026.
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Payscale, 2026
In its survey of 1,266 organizations, US employers reported giving 3.4% on average in 2026 and plan 3.5% for 2027.
These are budgets, and the money isn't split evenly. The Conference Board notes that a 3.5% median doesn't mean every worker gets 3.5%. It varies by industry, role, performance and skills.
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Look up what the role pays
The Labor Department's CareerOneStop Salary Finder covers more than 800 occupations by location. If data shows you're paid below the market, Harvard's Program on Negotiation calls that objective justification for a raise.
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List two results from this year
Use numbers where you can, like what you saved, sold, shipped or fixed, plus any work you took on since your last review.
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Match the number to the reason
A number well above the budgets, like 10% or 20%, needs a reason that size, such as a pay gap you can show or a much bigger job.
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Pick one number
Say one percent or one salary figure you can back up. The practice round's scorecard marks Your Ask down when you don't name a number, percent or title.
What to say when asking for a raise
Say it in three parts, then stop and let your boss answer.
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Say why you're there
“Thanks for making time. I'd like to talk about my pay.” Skip the apology and the warm-up.
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Give two results
“Since my review in [month], I [result, with a number], and I took on [new responsibility].”
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Name your number
“Based on that and what [role] pays in [city], I'm asking for a raise to [amount], about [X]%.”
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Stop talking
Let them answer, even if there's a pause.
Say“Thanks for making time. I'd like to talk about my pay. Since my review in [month], I [result 1, with a number] and took on [result 2 or new responsibility]. [Source] puts [role] in [city] at [range]. Based on that, I'm asking for a raise to [amount], about [X]%. Can we make that work?”
Put it in your own words and say it out loud before the meeting. A University of Maryland business school article advises scripting your points, then acting out the conversation with someone who will raise objections and won't go easy on you.
How to negotiate a raise when your boss pushes back
Plan an answer to each of these before the meeting, as Harvard's Program on Negotiation suggests. The AI manager in the practice round pushes back in these same ways.
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“The raise budget for this year is already set.”
In a 2018 Payscale survey of more than 160,000 people, the budget was the reason given most often for turning down a raise, at 49%. Ask what it would take.
Say“I understand. What would it take to get part of this approved before the next cycle?”
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“Let's wait for the review cycle.”
Agree to wait only with a date attached. MSU Billings' guide says that when your manager doesn't say yes or no, you should set a specific time to return.
Say“That works. Can we put [date] on the calendar and agree on what I'd need to show by then?”
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“What's changed since your last review?”
Answer with results. MSU Billings' guide says to focus on what you've accomplished, rather than how long you've been there.
Say“Two things. I [result, with a number], and I took on [responsibility], which wasn't part of my job at my last review.”
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“I'd need to check with HR.”
You may also hear that they have to ask their own boss. UC Berkeley's executive education guide says your manager will probably want time to assess the request, and Indeed's career guide notes that a recap email makes it easier for them to make the case for you.
Say“Of course. When should we pick this back up? I'll send you a short summary of my results today.”
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“I can't approve anything before the review cycle.”
Ask for what's still in reach. A University of Maryland business school article lists moving up the next review, bonuses, training costs and job responsibilities as other things to ask for.
Say“Then could we set a check-in for [date], and look at a one-time bonus or a training budget in the meantime?”
Negotiating a new job offer instead? How to negotiate salary after a job offer →
What not to say when asking for a raise
The practice round's scorecard flags each of these when it hears one, and quotes your words back to you.
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An ultimatum
Don't say“Give me [X]% or I'm leaving.”
A USC Career Center expert says an ultimatum won't be seen as professional and could backfire. If you have a real offer you'd take, say so plainly.
Say instead“I have an offer from another company. I'd rather stay, so I wanted to talk with you first.”
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A coworker's pay
Don't say“[Name] makes more than I do.”
Under the National Labor Relations Act, most private-sector employees who aren't supervisors can discuss pay with coworkers, the NLRB says. Bringing someone else's pay into your ask still makes the meeting about them, and it can backfire if your information is wrong, the USC expert adds.
Say instead“[Source] puts [role] in [city] at [range], and I'm below that.”
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An apology for asking
Don't say“Sorry, I know this is awkward, but…”
After strong work, asking for a raise is “very normal and expected,” in the USC expert's words.
Say instead“I'd like to talk about my pay.”
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Personal need as the main reason
Don't say“My rent went up, so I need more.”
Harvard's Program on Negotiation and the University of Maryland article both say to leave personal expenses out and base the ask on your work and the market.
Say instead“Here's what I delivered this year, and here's what the role pays.”
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Accepting “not now” with no date
Don't say“Okay, no problem,” and the meeting ends.
The USC expert suggests asking when you can revisit it. Harvard's Program on Negotiation adds asking what milestones would justify a raise.
Say instead“Before we wrap up, can we set [date] to revisit this, and write down what I'd need to show by then?”
How to ask for a raise in an email
Use email to book the meeting, and again afterward to confirm what you agreed. Make the ask in person or on a call. A USC Career Center expert advises against asking by email, since you can't have a proper conversation that way. UC Berkeley's executive education guide suggests a short note asking for 20 to 30 minutes.
Subject: Time to talk about my pay
Hi [name],
Could we find 30 minutes in the next week or two to talk about my pay? I'd like to walk you through [one or two results] and what I'm taking on next.
Thanks,
[Your name]
After the meeting, send a recap.
Subject: Recap of today's conversation
Hi [name],
Thanks for talking today. To confirm, [what we agreed, or what you're checking with HR], and we'll revisit it on [date]. By then I'll [what I'd need to show].
Thanks,
[Your name]
Send the recap the same day or the next. Indeed's career guide notes it helps if your manager has to ask someone else, and it gives you a record of the conversation.
Asking for a promotion instead?
Ask for the title and the pay together. In Mercer's survey from October 2025, employers planned merit raises of 3.2% for 2026 and promotion raises averaging 8.7%. If your manager offers the title now and the pay later, take it with the raise and its start date in writing.
If the promotion comes with an interview: internal interview questions →
Practice the conversation with an AI manager
An AI plays your manager in a 1:1 you asked for, and you talk it through out loud. It knows only your job title (or the job description you paste) and what you tell it, not your pay, your reviews or your coworkers.
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The pushback
It opens with “What did you want to talk about?”, asks what's changed since your last review, and tells you the budget is set.
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The limits
For a specific ask backed by results, it can approve a small raise now. Anything more, and any promotion, waits for the review cycle. If you ask for a promotion, it may offer the title now with the pay at the cycle.
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The scorecard
It scores Your Ask, Your Case, Securing Next Steps, Handling Pushback, and Communication & Presence, and lists any red flag it heard.
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What's free
Your first two scored mocks are free, with no card, and red flags are never behind the plan. The coaching, with why you lost points and your weakest answers rewritten, is in the monthly plan at $29 a month (intro price through October 31; regular $49).
More guides: Phone screen questions · Salary expectations · Phone interview tips · Calming interview nerves · Negotiating a job offer · What not to say in an interview · Practicing for an interview · Answering interview questions · Panel interviews · Why it's hard to find a job · Asking for a promotion