It's completely normal for you to approach your employer about a raise. In fact, it should be expected. Those who negotiate their salary have a 7% higher salary on average compared to those who don't. Even though that statistic is for salary negotiation, it shows that asking can help in most cases.
With unemployment reaching all time lows, now may be the best possible time to try and get a higher salary. If you approach the situation respectfully, the worst that can happen is that your employer tells you no. And if you're fired for asking for a raise, you probably don't want to work for that employer anyways.
Make sure the timing is right
If you ask at the right time, it greatly increases your chances of getting that raise. Starting the conversation with your employer 3 to 4 months before performance reviews is best because that's around when they should start preparing the budget for next year. If you ask during a yearly performance review, your employer probably already has a number locked in his mind and won't be willing to budge.
Preparing to ask for a raise
Make sure you check out how much people in similar positions are making using online tools like Glassdoor. This will give you a range of what salary you should be aiming for. When you ask, pick a number towards the higher range. Your employer will more than likely talk down from that number, or, even better, just say yes to your first proposal.
Also be sure that you know why you are asking for a raise. It's important to demonstrate your value to the company and the reasons that your work warrants a raise. You can't go to your employer and ask for a raise just because you think you deserve more.
What to do when you ask
Remember that you have the leverage. Giving you a small raise will be cheaper for the company than trying to replace you. It costs a company around $4,000 to replace a mid-level employee and it's even more expensive the more experience you have. When you bring up the topic, be clear that the conversation is about the possibility of a raise. Also, be specific about the salary number that you are looking for and be confident.
If you are shot down in this meeting, it's not the end of the world. If you feel you are worth more than you are already making, you can begin to search for another job. Doing so can actually increase your salary by more than you were asking for with your current employer. It never hurts to shop around and see what offers are out there.
