Get Paid Fair Salary and Earn More Money Using These 5 Professional Negotiations
Written by
Laura Beck
Edited by
Rebekah Evans
Commitment to Our Readers
GOBankingRates' editorial team is committed to bringing you unbiased reviews and information. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and services - our reviews and ratings are not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and our products and services review methodology.
20 Years
Helping You Live Richer
Reviewed
by Experts
Trusted by
Millions of Readers
Think you’re being paid less money compared to your colleagues? Gorick Ng, Harvard career advisor, told CNBC exactly how employees can navigate this delicate conversation — and get the salary they deserve.
Start With Data, Not Demands
“Asking for parity is about asking for more money because you’ve been offered less by the company compared to other people at the same level,” Ng explained. Before any conversation, gather concrete evidence about pay discrepancies.
Have the Colleague Conversation
When approaching coworkers about salary info, keep it confidential and professional. “I’m not looking to share this with anyone — this is a confidential conversation, but I want to make sure I’m getting paid what I should be getting paid for our job level,” career expert Vicki Salemi suggested as an opener.
Build Your Case
Create a clear comparison showing your value. Ng shared this winning approach from a successful negotiation: “I made this table comparing my peers. As you can see, I launched and now run a program that is about twice as large as the programs at our peer institutions.”
Set the Right Tone
“It’s not confrontational,” Salemi explained. “It’s calm and confident.” Start by expressing enthusiasm for your role and team before presenting your research about pay disparities.
Be Direct But Diplomatic
Frame it as a partnership. Ng recommended saying something like: “It would mean a lot to me to have your support to advocate for this increase. Would that be possible?” This approach keeps the conversation collaborative rather than confrontational.
If your current employer won’t match fair market value, Salemi said, “There are other organizations out there who advocate for pay parity. Work for them instead.”
More From GOBankingRates
