Advanced· C1Work & career13 min

Negotiating a pay raise

Make a confident case for a raise, respond to pushback and reach a concrete agreement.

The scene

You have taken on more responsibility over the past year and want a raise. In your annual review, your manager says the budget is tight.

Speaker A
Manager
Speaker B
You (employee)

Your goals

  • Present your achievements with numbers and examples
  • Respond to objections without becoming defensive
  • Negotiate a concrete outcome and timeline

Key vocabulary

Press the speaker to hear each word or phrase.

  • raise

    an increase in pay (a 'pay rise' in British English)

    I'd like to discuss a raise.

  • market rate

    the typical salary for a job in the current job market

    My salary is below the market rate.

  • to take on

    to accept new work or responsibility

    I've taken on two new clients.

  • tight budget

    a budget with very little extra money

    The budget is tight this year.

  • to justify

    to give good reasons for something

    Can you justify that number?

  • to revisit

    to discuss again later

    Could we revisit this in six months?

  • compensation

    the full pay and benefits for a job

    Let's look at your total compensation.

  • in the range of

    approximately; between certain numbers

    I'm thinking in the range of eight percent.

Useful phrases

  • I'd like to talk about my compensation.

    Opening the topic directly but politely

  • Over the past year, I've …

    Introducing your achievements

  • Based on my research, the market rate is …

    Supporting your request with data

  • I understand the budget is tight. That said, …

    Acknowledging an objection, then continuing

  • If a raise isn't possible right now, could we …?

    Offering an alternative

  • Could we agree on a date to review this?

    Getting a firm commitment

Practice studio: speak the dialogue

Pick your role and press Start. Your partner's lines are read aloud; then say your line into the microphone (or type it) and see which words you got right.

Your role

  1. Manager

    So that covers your goals for next year. Was there anything else you wanted to discuss?

  2. You (employee)

    Yes, I'd like to talk about my compensation. Over the past year, I've taken on a lot more responsibility.

  3. Manager

    Go on.

  4. You (employee)

    I now manage three key clients, and they brought in about twenty percent more revenue this year.

  5. Manager

    Those results are excellent, and the team has noticed. But I have to be honest: the budget is tight.

  6. You (employee)

    I understand the budget is tight. That said, based on my research, my salary is below the market rate for this role.

  7. Manager

    What sort of increase did you have in mind?

  8. You (employee)

    Something in the range of eight percent would reflect my current responsibilities.

  9. Manager

    Eight percent is difficult right now. I might be able to do four percent from January.

  10. You (employee)

    If four percent is the limit now, could we agree to revisit it in six months, with clear targets I need to hit?

You speak 5 lines as You (employee); Manager is read aloud for you.

Speech recognition is done by your browser (in Chrome and Edge this uses the browser maker's online service). Nothing is stored by AltFTool.

Your turn: speak freely

Answer out loud in your own words. There is no score here: aim for full sentences and fewer filler words.

  1. 1. Describe two achievements from your work or studies using numbers or clear results.

  2. 2. Your manager says the budget is tight. Respond calmly and continue your argument.

  3. 3. Propose a compromise and ask for a specific date to review it.

Quick quiz

Choose an answer to see if you are right and why.

  1. 1. Which opener is direct but polite?
  2. 2. What makes a raise request more persuasive?
  3. 3. 'I understand the budget is tight. That said…' is used to…
  4. 4. What does 'revisit it in six months' mean?

0 of 4 answered

Common mistakes

  • Avoid: I need more money because my rent went up.

    Say: Based on my results and the market rate, I'd like to discuss a raise.

    Base your case on your value to the company, not on personal costs.

  • Avoid: I want a raise of eight percents.

    Say: I'd like a raise of eight percent.

    'Percent' does not take a plural -s after a number.

  • Avoid: Can we discuss about my salary?

    Say: Can we discuss my salary?

    'Discuss' is followed directly by its object, with no 'about'.

Tips

  • Prepare three achievements with numbers before the meeting and practice saying them aloud.
  • Say a specific number or range; vague requests are easy to postpone.
  • If the answer is 'not now', ask for a date and clear targets so 'later' becomes a plan.

Questions about this lesson

How do you ask for a raise in English?

Open with 'I'd like to talk about my compensation,' give two or three concrete achievements and name a range: 'Something in the range of eight percent.'

Is it 'raise' or 'rise'?

Americans say 'a raise' and British speakers say 'a pay rise'. Both mean an increase in salary.

What does 'that said' mean?

'That said' means 'however' or 'even so'. Use it after accepting a point to add a different one.

Finish the lesson

Finish the practice studio and the quiz and this lesson is marked complete for you.

Next lesson: Job interview: 'Tell me about yourself'

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