Work Question - raise

[Smallpox 0]

I realize this is a large community so I'd like your opinions.

 

I live in the Bay Area and as you may know its expensive. I've been in my job for 7 years and have generally gotten about 5% a year. My salary did start low though as I was hired in the middle of the recession. I started at 54k. 7 years later I am at 76k but struggling because inflation has been really high, especially housing inflation.

 

My office is small (averages 7 ppl total) and is in the architectural field. In the past three months, the entire office has turned over except myself and an employee who has been there for about 16 years. I was aware of this turnover a bit ahead of time as we all talk about cost of inflation etc. but when some of the entry level people left I decided to wait and not request raise because I didn't want to be seen as taking an advantage.

 

Last Friday, a manager gave notice and apparently they tried to offer her more money to stay but she refused (she is doubling her salary so any bump wouldn't have helped). Now is the time I think to ask for more, with reviews about 7 to 8 weeks away. I am going to ask to be bumped up to 90k (thats about 18.5% increase). Am I being reasonable here in your opinion? The person leaving is also also giving me the details to apply for a job similar to hers so I do have that in my back pocket (IMO her job is higher risk because its more boom / bust and the market is mature at this point).

 

A couple of other details. The one employee who has been there longer makes double what I make (I figured this out because last here they declared they stopped paying social security tax as of October 1st 2016) and just three months ago was given a car by the owner (used, but with a blue book value of about 13,000). I mention this because it shows I'm not anywhere close to overshooting that person's compensation. In fact I'm asking for about the same as the value of the car.

 

 

[Penguin_ie 5,995]

It sounds like you are reasonable, but it is very hard to say because we don;t know what exactly you do vs your co-workers.  

Be prepared in your review not only with your past reviews, and things you know about your co-workers compensation, but also industry average comparisons in your area.

[Smallpox 0]

So the company is set up generally with three managers and two to three drafts people.

 

I have been the second most senior person for about 5 years now and manage about 50% of the company projects (which is about 35% of the work load). The most senior manager manages about 25% of the company projects but has one very large project that is very demanding so they have about 45% of the work load. The person that left had about 25% of the company projects and was roughly 20% of the workload.

 

One thing I thought I should avoid was dwelling on others compensation, but maybe its okay? The Senior person makes about 140k and the manager who left made high 50s (they were not quite full time). I believe entry level are getting between 50 and 55k.

 

In terms of overall experience I have 12 years and the most senior has 16 years.

Edited July 23, 2017 by Smallpox

[Randyandyuni 2,682]

5% raises do not sound bad, in Ohio I have had raises in the 1.5 - 3% range for 5-6 years, as others have said, dwelling on how other's are compensated is a receipe for unhappiness. In your review it is fine to discuss better compensation but it has three potential outcomes, they give you a raise, they listen to you and consider you a disengaged employee, or they ignore you, the level of complaint or argument you raise can alter their perception of your usefulness

[NikLR 13,231]

5% raises are above the norm.  Generally an excellent employee may receive that much and a normal employee about 3%.  You can ask for more of course, but that's a huge jump and likely to be declined if I'm honest with you.  What would you take as a minimum before you decided to leave?  Have you checked out other firms? Are you willing to leave if they don't give you a larger raise?  Personally I think asking for a 10% raise this year would be better than 18.5%.  

[Lemonslice 4,947]

You've been working for the same employer too long. Hop away, get a raise...

 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/cameronkeng/2014/06/22/employees-that-stay-in-companies-longer-than-2-years-get-paid-50-less/?s=trending#202484441365

[Maria1989 403]

Ask for the raise, especially with the recent turnover and the fact that they already know you aren't making what the "industry norms" are. Worst case scenario is that they say no. Which I doubt, give it a shot 😊