If you’ve ever wanted a raise or promotion at work, you’re not alone. According to a CNBC report, 49% of workers in the United States got a pay raise in 2019. If you’ve recently been offered a new job, have been given new responsibilities, or have been at a company for many years, you may have considered asking your boss for an increased salary.

Though this may seem like an uncomfortable conversation to have, it’s an important one. The first thing you should do in this process is write a salary negotiation letter. Keep reading to learn how to write the best letter or e-mail to help get you that raise.

Determine Your Contact

Before you waste your time writing your salary negotiation e-mail to the wrong person, consider who will actually be in charge of your salary. If you’re negotiating a new job offer, you probably want to go with the hiring manager or recruiter, not the person at the top of your company.

If you have been at your job for a while, go to your direct manager. Don’t go above them first, as they could see this as a slight towards them, which will not help your chances.

Set the Professional Tone

Your e-mail should be precise and professional. Have a professional subject line and introduction. Describe your accomplishments at the company and how much you value them. Then, mention the last time you had a salary review, and suggest an in-person or phone meeting to discuss your salary further.

If it’s a new job, illustrate how excited you are for the opportunity and how your experience and assets lead you to want to discuss your salary offer further.

Do Your Research

You want your boss to know that you care about their company, and you wouldn’t just ask for some random number. When you have your meeting, describe what the job market is for your position and how much someone with your experience in your area would normally get.

Don’t forget to tally up all of your responsibilities and wins for the company, so you can provide proof for why you deserve that raise if asked. You can even print out pay stubs, either from your company or using a pay stubs maker, so that you can have your current salary wages on hand.

Write a Follow-Up

When you’re meeting is over, consider writing a follow-up e-mail if you haven’t heard any news from your boss within a few days. Again, keep it professional and precise. Mention your previous meeting, and provide any details that were discussed.

Suggest that you can talk about it further if desired, and thank them for their time. You can be sure that your request will be given more attention if you are persistent.

Salary Negotiation Letter Tactics 

Before you write your salary negotiation letter, make sure you know exactly what you want to say. Do your research beforehand, so you can be confident that you can answer any question with facts.

Know your worth, but be open-minded and listen to your manager or boss for what they need too. Don’t be afraid to negotiate further, and you will soon have the salary that you desire. If you’d like more tips like this, check out our catalog of articles!