Is it absurd to ask for a 35% raise?

[Josh]

I am in a sales role at my company and I believe they are underpaying me. I performed pretty well last year, beating my quota and increasing revenue in my territories by about 8%. Searching the internet for typical salaries of someone in a position similar to mine, I see the average salary is about 30%-40% higher than what I am getting paid.

I've started out this year on a good note so far - this month I am set to bring in a decent amount of new business.

Would I be completely out of line to ask my manager for a 35% raise?

 

[rudeguy]

are you on commission?

 

[Josh]

are you on commission?

No, salaried and I get a bonus at the end of the year pretty much based on how much I exceed quota.

 

[rudeguy]

No, salaried and I get a bonus at the end of the year pretty much based on how much I exceed quota.

ouch

I would for sure have a sit down with your boss.

What kind of company doesn't pay their sales guys on commission? It sounds like you are outside sales too, right?

Keep in mind that if you really are good in sales, you can always get a new job. If your current company isn't willing to pay what you are worth, then that will be their loss.

<~~ Been on commission since '99. I don't think I could ever go back to salary/hourly.

 

[Printer Bandit]

switch jobs if you want 35&#37; more.

 

[Powermoloch]

Time to talk w/ your boss !

 

[spidey07]

I am in a sales role at my company and I believe they are underpaying me. I performed pretty well last year, beating my quota and increasing revenue in my territories by about 8%. Searching the internet for typical salaries of someone in a position similar to mine, I see the average salary is about 30%-40% higher than what I am getting paid.

I've started out this year on a good note so far - this month I am set to bring in a decent amount of new business.

Would I be completely out of line to ask my manager for a 35% raise?

Totally depends on how much you make. If you can make your case then make it. I've gotten 40, 50, 60% raises before. You have to make your case and best if you have another offer in hand.

 

[Josh]

ouch

I would for sure have a sit down with your boss.

What kind of company doesn't pay their sales guys on commission? It sounds like you are outside sales too, right?

Keep in mind that if you really are good in sales, you can always get a new job. If your current company isn't willing to pay what you are worth, then that will be their loss.

<~~ Been on commission since '99. I don't think I could ever go back to salary/hourly.

Yea, all the sales staff here is salaried with bonus.

I think I am going to go in and ask for the 35&#37;. What's the worst that could happen? They come back to me with a resounding "no"...then I start searching for a new job.

Totally depends on how much you make. If you can make your case then make it. I've gotten 40, 50, 60% raises before. You have to make your case and best if you have another offer in hand.

That's what I'm saying - I think I can make a great case with my good year last year and the strong start I've had so far to this year.

 

[rudeguy]

Yea, all the sales staff here is salaried with bonus.

I think I am going to go in and ask for the 35%. What's the worst that could happen? They come back to me with a resounding "no"...then I start searching for a new job.

Exactly.

Do it right though. You are going to need to sell your boss, so come prepared.

Good luck!

 

[Fingolfin269]

How does your salary stack up to similar positions in your geographic location? That may be more important than a nationwide average.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

How does your salary stack up to similar positions in your geographic location? That may be more important than a nationwide average.

Bingo. If you're in the SW, you're shit outa luck.

 

[Rumpltzer]

It's not absurd to ask for a 35% raise. You are worth what a company is willing to pay you.

 

[JS80]

I am in a sales role at my company and I believe they are underpaying me. I performed pretty well last year, beating my quota and increasing revenue in my territories by about 8%. Searching the internet for typical salaries of someone in a position similar to mine, I see the average salary is about 30%-40% higher than what I am getting paid.

I've started out this year on a good note so far - this month I am set to bring in a decent amount of new business.

Would I be completely out of line to ask my manager for a 35% raise?

1) Calculate your yearly sales
2) Subtract for cost of sale, come up with gross profit
3) Estimate support costs and overhead (engineers, finance, marketing, CEO, rent, etc)
4) Estimate your sales book's net income
5) Compare to your all-in compensation

You may find that you are overpaid. I've seen many companies take losses on salespeople for the sake of having a functioning sales department.

But come back to us after your estimates on 1-5 and we'll have a better answer.

 

[Josh]

How does your salary stack up to similar positions in your geographic location? That may be more important than a nationwide average.

I'm close to NYC, so the local average is right around 25-30% higher than my salary. That's why I figure I will ask for 35% and if they do agree to a raise at all, they will come back with a lower % most likely.

 

[edro]

No way. Most large companies limit raises around ~15&#37;, and those are pretty damn hard to get.

 

[gophins72]

in before "...in this economy..."

for the record, it's always fine to ask, especially if you aren't being pushy or obnoxious and have data.

 

[theeedude]

It's not absurd, but you are better off asking for it at another company. Even if you want to stay at your present company, having a competing offer on hand will sure get the point across real quick.

 

[Bignate603]

If you're going to ask for it make sure to have all your research with you on how much other people earn doing similar jobs. Coming in and saying "Give me 35&#37; more" won't go over as well as "This says that other people doing similar work earn much more than me".

 

[Josh]

If you're going to ask for it make sure to have all your research with you on how much other people earn doing similar jobs. Coming in and saying "Give me 35&#37; more" won't go over as well as "This says that other people doing similar work earn much more than me".

Right. That's what I'm doing right now. Pretty much writing everything down that I am going to say at the meeting (what I accomplished, what I plan to accomplish this year), in addition to doing research that I will bring in with me showing what a typical person in my position is making.

 

[cherrytwist]

Find a job that's going to pay you 35&#37; more then ask for the raise. If they think you're "worth it", they'll match.

 

[Bignate603]

Right. That's what I'm doing right now. Pretty much writing everything down that I am going to say at the meeting (what I accomplished, what I plan to accomplish this year), in addition to doing research that I will bring in with me showing what a typical person in my position is making.

Sounds like you have a good plan, good luck with it!

Last year my company didn't have raises for anyone but I had been particularly burned by how they had changed some of the benefits. During my performance review (which was very good) I told my boss that if things didn't improve I didn't see myself staying with the company over the long term. I didn't set a date on when I would leave and just left it open ended. My boss said that he would see what he could do. A few weeks later I was very quietly given a promotion and a 12% raise. I think that if I had threatened to quit immediately it wouldn't have played out nearly as well.

 

[ModerateRepZero]

so, how did it go?

 

[3chordcharlie]

It's not absurd to ask for a 35% raise. You are worth what a company is willing to pay you.

Only loosely related; you're assuming that his company knows what he is worth.

But then you would also need to assume that he knows what he's worth.

If both of those were true, he'd already be making that number, or have moved on.

 

[alkemyst]

I'm close to NYC, so the local average is right around 25-30% higher than my salary. That's why I figure I will ask for 35% and if they do agree to a raise at all, they will come back with a lower % most likely.

Just be prepared to have an exit strategy.

Most that go to their bosses for huge raises over estimate their values.

I have known quite a few over-achievers that have gotten doubled in salary at the mid-5 figure and beyond.

A 35% raise at $10/hr is a lot different than at $75/hr

 

[Josh]

so, how did it go?

Spoke with VP, it went well. VP "understands why I'm being aggressive" and "wants to see me stay at the company". VP will be going to the people who have the final say and I should be finding out soon enough if its a yay or a nay.

One thing is for sure though, there is no doubt in my mind they will be giving me something more than the standard raise I was going to get. However, how close that # is to what I wanted will obviously be the deciding factor if I decide to apply/interview at other places.