The ultimate guide to asking for a raise

Hey there! Imagine losing $46,000 in salary. That’s what happened when this flight attendant switched airlines and went from earning $70,000 to…$27,000.

That’s right. The majority of flight attendants who switch airlines have to start again at entry-level rates. Now, they’re in the midst of intense contract negotiations—and could strike any day.

Want to hear more about this flight attendant’s story? Check out our conversation right here.

The Ultimate Guide to Asking For a Raise 

There are probably a lot of reasons why you haven’t asked for a raise yet. 💭

Maybe you aren’t sure how to broach the conversation. Maybe you’re afraid you’ll sound “greedy” or “overestimate” your worth. Or maybe you’re convinced your boss will fire you on the spot for even bringing it up.

I’m here to tell you: Asking for a raise is perfectly normal. 

(And none of those things will happen to you). 

Asking for a raise isn’t asking for a favor. If you’re a quality team member, your employer will know it’s in their best interest to pay you a fair wage to keep you around. 

But asking for a raise can still be intimidating! That’s why today, we’re diving into the nitty gritty of asking for a raise: the timing, dollar amount, and more to help you maximize your earning potential. 

When Should You Ask For a Raise? 

Timing matters. Here are a few pointers to remember: 

➜ It’s best to wait at least six months if you’re new to a job. 

➜ Your quarterly or annual review is a good time—your employer might be expecting a raise discussion and they’ve just spent time reflecting on your work. 

➜ Another solid time is the end of the fiscal year as budgets (including salary adjustments!) are reset. 

However, you don’t have to wait for employee reviews or a specific time of the year. If you have more duties, nailed a big project, or feel your salary needs to be adjusted to match the market, ask away.

Unsure what your market rate is? Our guide has all the answers. 

How Much Should I Ask For? 

There is no one-size-fits-all answer. However, the typical request ranges from 5% to 15% of your current salary. 

But your salary isn’t enough to determine the specific amount you could reasonably expect in a raise—you’re going to need to do some research on how much others are earning in your area in similar roles to get a clearer picture of what’s fair. Our Salary Database can help you with that. 

How To Ask For a Raise 

Need an email template to use for your raise request? We’ve got you covered. 

The Next Steps 

You’ve got a meeting on the calendar. You have a number in your head. It’s almost time to go in there and ask for 👏 what 👏 you’re 👏 worth. 

But how exactly do you prepare for your meeting…and what are the things you should avoid saying?

Our Salary Negotiation Guide has your back. Brimming with tried and true scripts, templates, and preparation tips, this guide will help you get the raise you deserve. Get it here. 

True or False: 🔍 Flight attendants don’t get paid until aircraft doors are sealed shut. 

It’s unfortunately…true. The majority of flight attendants aren’t compensated for the time they spend in airports waiting for the next flight, preparing meals, stowing bags, and more.

This is just the tip of the iceberg of what’s really going on in the world of air travel. 

So, we brought together three people in the industry (a pilot, a flight attendant, and a field service engineer) to chat about it all: compensation, benefits, and even the Boeing 737 Max. 👀 

Watch their full interview on YouTube (and don’t forget to subscribe)!

• “Being paid in a t-shirt for eight hours of work does not help me feed myself.” The Fashion Workers Act is here to stop the exploitation of models…and it’s headed to the NY governor for signature. The bill mandates meal breaks, enacts overtime for jobs over eight hours, caps agency commissions at 20%, and much more.

• Summer 2023 was Earth’s hottest in 2,000 years. As global temperatures rise, laws that protect workers from heat stress are so important. Fortunately, OSHA’s proposed heat rule just hit the White House and is closer to becoming reality. 

• Freelancers 🤝 Illinois. The Freelancer Worker Protection Act is set to go live in Illinois this July. It requires companies that use freelancers to provide a written contract for these workers and pay them within a month after their work is done (no “Net-180 Days” terms here).

• Apple is being sued for “deliberately” paying women less than men. What started it all? One of the plaintiffs found a coworker’s W-2 form left on the office printer…and it showed he was getting paid $10,000 more despite doing the same job.

Thanks for being here! We’re right in the middle of Pride Month 🏳️‍🌈 and we’re keeping our eyes peeled for businesses that change their websites, branding, and social media to rainbow colors…but then change them back the second June is over (known as rainbow washing).

Pride should be all about really supporting the LGBTQ+ community in the longterm—not just changing your company’s logo colors one month out of the year.

See you next week!