After a year in your first job, you have likely learned a lot, taken on more and become more valuable to your team. Your pay may not have kept up. Many first-time employees wait for a raise to be offered and feel frustrated when it does not happen. Asking, respectfully and with evidence, is a normal part of professional life.
This guide shows you how to prepare and make the request.
Understand how pay works at your company
Before asking, find out:
- Does the company have an annual pay review cycle? When?
- Are there published salary bands or levels?
- How are raises usually decided, and by whom?
- Are there budget periods when requests are more likely to succeed?
If you ask a few weeks before budgets are set, your manager has a better chance of supporting you. Your manager or HR can usually explain the process.
Build your case with evidence
A raise request should be based on your contribution and the market, not on personal expenses.
Your contribution
Gather examples from your notes and reviews:
- Responsibilities you have taken on beyond your original role.
- Results: time saved, errors reduced, customers helped, revenue supported.
- Skills and certifications gained.
- Positive feedback from your manager, colleagues or customers.
Our guides on writing status updates and preparing for your performance review help you build this record throughout the year.
The market
Research what similar roles pay in your location for someone with your experience. See our guide to researching entry-level salaries. After a year, you may be closer to “junior” or “associate” rather than entry-level.
Decide what to ask for
Choose a specific number or range based on your research and contribution. Raises vary widely by industry, company and economic conditions, so focus on the market rate for your role and level rather than a general percentage. Also think about alternatives if a raise is not possible now:
- A defined review date in a few months.
- A title change that reflects your responsibilities.
- Training, a certification budget or conference attendance.
- Additional flexibility.
Request a dedicated conversation
Do not raise pay in passing. Ask for time:
Requesting the meeting
“Could we set aside 20 minutes in our next one-on-one to discuss my role and compensation? I’d like to talk about my progress over the past year.”
A script for the conversation
Making the case
“Thanks for making time. Over the past year I’ve taken on the weekly carrier report and the metrics email, created the carrier issues checklist that reduced repeat questions, and completed the analytics certification. Based on these responsibilities and my research into similar roles in our area, I’d like to discuss adjusting my salary to around $52,000. I really enjoy working here and want to keep growing with the team. What are your thoughts?”
Then listen. Expect your manager may need time to check budgets or get approval. The number above is an example; use one based on your own research.
Possible responses
| Response | What to do |
|---|---|
| “Yes.” | Thank them and ask when it takes effect and to confirm it in writing |
| “I need to check.” | Agree on when you will hear back |
| “Not now, but later.” | Ask what is needed and agree a specific review date |
| “No.” | Ask what would change the answer; consider alternatives |
If the answer is no
- Stay calm and professional.
- Ask what you would need to achieve, and by when, to qualify for an increase.
- Agree to revisit the conversation at a specific date.
- Ask about non-salary options such as training or title changes.
If pay remains well below market and growth is limited for a long time, it may be a factor in deciding whether to stay. Our guide on when to leave your first job can help you think it through.
Mistakes to avoid
- Comparing yourself to specific colleagues’ salaries.
- Threatening to leave unless you really mean it.
- Basing the request on personal costs.
- Asking without evidence or research.
- Getting emotional if the answer is not what you hoped.
After the conversation
Follow up in writing to summarize what was agreed. If a raise is approved, confirm the amount and effective date. If not, note the agreed next steps and set a reminder.
Keep a contributions list from today
Start a “contributions” list now with dates and results, even if you plan to ask in several months. When the time comes, combine it with market research and use the script above. If you would like to grow your responsibilities first, read how to ask for more responsibility at work.