8 Ways To Boost Your Salary

Studies show that job satisfaction rises with anassistant? You should grab lunch with us today, I'll
employee's salary. It's a simple equation: Theintroduce you."
more money you make, the more valued you'llThe Bottom Line: A powerful network can put
feel.you in touch with different people and skills,
Money can't buy happiness, but proof that you'reincreasing your own value.
important at work can be very important both in5. Use Your Experience
and away from the office. A low salary could beIn the journal Training, Jeff Barbian reports that
the biggest reason why you're unsatisfied atworkers with 13 or more years' experience can
work, but there are a number of things you canexpect to earn 33% more than their coworkers
do to increase your worth.with less than three years of experience. If
1. Watch Your Benefitsyou've been with one company for a while, you
Many employees are still reeling from the layoffhave a powerful bargaining chip towards a better
scares of the 1990s. However, some reasonspaycheck. If you're new to the company or the
behind layoffs and low pay health care insurancefield, however, you can still use the experience
benefits, for example, have since changed.you have to your advantage. A familiarity with
According to an article in U.S. News & Worldmachines or computer programs at work could
Report, "since 1995, the spread of managed care,make you an appealing trainer for new hires,
plus other cost-containment measures, has freedearning you more respect and an argument for a
up dough that otherwise would have beenraise.
consumed by health care inflation." Ask your HRTell the Boss: "Let me give James the tour--I'll
department for the numbers on health care andshow him how to un-jam that printer that's giving
pension plans from the past ten years.you trouble."
Sometimes, employers are willing to pass theThe Bottom Line: Experience can be measured in
savings on to their experienced employees.more ways than years.
Tell the Boss: "Since the new insurance plan raised6. Go Where You're Needed
my deductible, I need a dependable way to coverA recent survey in Network World found that
the difference."employees often benefit from "job hopping," or
The Bottom Line: If your salary hasn't changedquitting one job in favor of one with more
since the Clinton administration, but your benefitbenefits or higher pay. IT professionals loyal to
package has, asking for a raise shouldn't put yourtheir company made an average of $74,010 a
job in jeopardy.year, while job hoppers averaged $85,200. More
2. Take On Responsibilityemployees are keeping their eyes on the
Even small tasks can make a difference in yourclassifieds even if they are somewhat satisfied
value as an employee. If you're the only one inwith their jobs, and enjoying the rewards for
the office who can operate the projectiondoing the same work in a new office.
machine or maintain the company website, you'llTell the Boss: "I want to be on board with a
be a leader among your coworkers and an assetcompany that values its employees, and I've
to your boss. Employers appreciate a willingnessheard great things about your team."
to volunteer, and a list of your unique abilities canThe Bottom Line: If you're ready to change your
be a benefit to you at a performance evaluation.routine, a new job in the same field can be a
Of course, the more training you have in the field,challenge and a reward.
the more likely you'll be able to handle new tasks7. Change Your Scenery
and technology.Your location can mean a big difference in the
Tell the Boss: "We could organize this paperworkmoney you bring home. According to Salary.com,
into an Excel file pretty easily. Do you want mehuman resources managers making $77,885 in
to set up a template?"Des Moines, Iowa, might average $80,967 in
The Bottom Line: If you have the time andSyracuse, New York, or $83,477 in Portland,
knowledge, a new task can both challenge andOregon. You'll need to take things like relocation
benefit you.cost and cost of living into account, but a change
3. Educate Yourselfof scenery can revitalize your outlook on life, as
There are real financial benefits to getting anwell as your paycheck.
education. In 2005, the U.S. Census reported thatTell the Boss: "I've always heard this part of the
a college degree nearly doubles a worker's salary,country was beautiful, but I had to see it for
on average. Workers over 18 in the U.S. with amyself."
bachelor's degree earn over $23,000 a year moreThe Bottom Line: A new location is a drastic
than workers with a high school diploma, and anychange, but moving can mean more than a better
level of education can mean a permanent raise insalary.
your salary. Because employers often want their8. Bargain Smart
employees to be trained and educated, someWhen it's time to negotiate a raise, you need to
companies offer tuition assistance for workersbe prepared. Come to the table with your
willing to go to school on their own time.qualifications, and anticipate your employer's
Tell the Boss: "If you invest in me, I'll use myconcerns. In Business Week, management
education and training to benefit the future of thisprofessor Deborah M. Kolb suggests coming up
company."with rebuttals for an employer's likely concerns.
The Bottom Line: Higher education can be aAmong them: "I realize the budget is tight; it has
financial commitment, but the benefits could last abeen that way for some time, but we have
lifetime.some new hires," and "I know the budget is tight,
4. Shake Some Handslet's see if we can work around it." In both cases,
From multinational corporations to the row ofempathy, or taking the time to understand your
stores in a small-town block, success in business isemployer's concerns, combines with your own
all about who you know. A recent article in Blackplan to make the negotiation more of a
Enterprise illuminates the secrets of the casualcooperative effort.
network: "Lunchtime and coffee breaks provideTell the Boss: "We both care about the future at
an excellent opportunity for informal meetings,this company. I want to feel confidant that I'll be
while workplace organizations such as affinityhere for many years to come."
groups, softball teams, and voluntary committeesThe Bottom Line: Realizing that your employer
offer more structured methods of getting tohas his or her own set of concerns can help you
know people from all walks of the organization." Ifwork together.
you want to advance in your field, think of theFor every salary boosting strategy, confidence is
tasks you complete at work as only half of yourthe key. Once you realize that you're worth a
job--the other half is meeting people, expandingmore lucrative day at work, make sure your
your circle, and getting your name out.boss knows, too.
Tell the Boss: "Have you met our supplier's new