How to ask for a raise politely

To ask for a raise politely, request a dedicated conversation, then make your case with evidence: what you've delivered, how the role has grown, and a specific number.

Asking for a raise politely doesn't mean asking timidly - it means asking with evidence, at the right moment, in a way that's easy for your manager to champion. Your manager usually can't approve a raise alone; they have to make your case upward. So your job is to hand them that case: what you've delivered, what's changed since your salary was set, and a specific number. The phrases below cover opening the conversation, making the ask, and handling the response, from gentle openers to direct requests.

12 polite ways to ask for a raise

Ordered from most gentle to most direct.

  1. 1.“I'd like to set up time to talk about my compensation - when works for you?”
  2. 2.“Could we put 30 minutes on the calendar to talk about my pay? I'd like to walk you through what's changed since we last set it.”
  3. 3.“Over the past year my responsibilities have grown to include [X] and [Y], and I'd like to discuss bringing my salary in line with that.”
  4. 4.“I've been researching market rates for this role, and I'd like to talk about closing the gap.”
  5. 5.“The market range for this role has moved to roughly [range], and I'd like my salary to track the value I'm delivering rather than lag behind it.”
  6. 6.“Since my last review I've delivered [A], [B], and [C]. Based on that, I'm asking for a salary of [amount].”
  7. 7.“I love the work and I want to stay long-term - and for that to make sense, I need my compensation to reflect the role I'm actually doing.”
  8. 8.“What would need to be true for me to reach [amount] here? I'd like to build a concrete plan with you.”
  9. 9.“I'm asking for a [X]% increase. Here's a one-page summary of the results behind that number.”
  10. 10.“If a raise isn't possible this cycle, I'd like to agree on what milestones would unlock one, and when we'll revisit.”
  11. 11.“If the full number isn't possible this cycle, could we agree on a first increase now and put the rest in writing against clear milestones?”
  12. 12.“I want to be straightforward: I'm being recruited at higher numbers, but my preference is to stay. Can we talk about what's possible?”

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Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to ask for a raise?
Just after a visible win, before budget cycles close, or when your role has clearly expanded - ideally all three. Asking a few months before annual reviews often beats asking during them, when budgets are already allocated.
Should I give a specific number?
Yes. A researched, specific ask anchors the conversation and signals seriousness - 'I'm asking for [amount] based on market data and my expanded scope' gives your manager something concrete to take upward. Vague asks get vague answers.
What if the answer is no?
Convert the no into a plan: ask what specific results would justify the raise, put a date on the follow-up conversation, and get it in writing. A no with a milestone path is progress; a no with nothing attached tells you something too.

More polite ways to say it