Am I Being Underpaid?

Compare your salary to market data for your specific role, experience level, and location. If you are below the 25th percentile for comparable roles, you are likely underpaid. Also consider: when did you last get a raise? If it has been over 18 months, inflation alone may have eroded your real pay.

A good salary puts you between the median and 75th percentile for your role and location. Early in your career, being at or just above median is typical. After 5+ years of strong performance, you should be pushing toward p75. Being significantly above p75 often requires either switching companies or taking on management responsibility.

Once a year is standard - usually tied to your annual review cycle. However, if you have taken on significantly more responsibility, delivered a high-impact project, or have not had a raise in 18+ months, it is reasonable to ask sooner. Never go more than two years without discussing your compensation.

No. Asking about market rates is a professional and normal part of managing your career. Framing it as research rather than a complaint helps: 'I have been looking at market data for this role and would like to discuss where I sit' is very different from 'I think I deserve more money'.

If you are below median, ask for enough to reach it - typically 10-20% depending on how far below you are. If you are at median, asking for 8-12% is reasonable for a strong review year. Always anchor to market data rather than a percentage, and have a number in mind before the conversation.

Prepare market data, quantify your recent impact, and schedule a dedicated conversation - not a mention at the end of a regular meeting. Name a specific number (anchoring high is better than a range). If your employer cannot match market rate, a competing offer is the most powerful negotiating tool available to you.