Negotiating a salary increase isn’t anyone’s idea of fun.
Stuck between the fear of pricing themselves out of a job (or a job offer), and the rising costs of living, many professionals bite the bullet and settle for less than what they’re worth.
Others go about it the wrong way and their demand falls on deaf ears.
So, how does one negotiate a salary or a salary increase?
The best way to do it is via a salary negotiation email.
Why?
Because salary negotiation over email removes the stress of a face-to-face meeting while making you look professional and polished.
You can write a nice salary negotiation letter detailing why you deserve a raise, the services you provide, and how you have contributed to the company’s success.
To make life easier for you, we’ll give you all the do’s and don’ts of how to ask for a raise via email.
We will also include a bunch of salary negotiation email templates that you can copy-paste and send to your current or prospective employer.
So let’s get started, shall we?
The Anatomy of a Salary Negotiation Email
In terms of composition, the salary negotiation email is similar to your regular email. There’s the mandatory subject line, a greeting, your main body text, and the signature. Email copywriting 101, right? For the most part, yes.
However, when writing a salary increase email, tactfulness, and diplomacy are the key ingredients.
The thing is, you don’t want to come across as either weak or pushy as both of these extremes will get you the dreaded “No”. The only difference is that the former will get you a polite “No” whereas the latter will get you a slap-on-the-wrist “No”.
You need to hit that sweet spot in between in order to strike the right balance with your salary negotiation email.
What to Include In a Salary Negotiation Email
When crafting your salary negotiation letter, there are several key components that you need to include.
It is important to note that these components will differ depending on the situation.
For instance, a pay raise email subject line will be different from the subject line for a salary negotiation email with a new employer.
Likewise, the opening paragraph will differ depending on the situation, as will most of the components that constitute a salary negotiation email.
That said, we will cover all of these scenarios in detail later, but here are a few general pointers and components to include:
- A courteous greeting
- An introductory paragraph stating your intention to discuss a salary increase
- Examples showing your past success
- Credible industry research
- Warm and polite conclusion
Subject Line For Salary Increase Email
An appropriate subject line for your salary negotiation email is one that communicates your intentions clearly and succinctly.
Thus, like any subject line you will ever write, your pay raise email subject line should be short, concise, and to the point.
Here are a few examples of subject lines for your salary negotiation email:
- Salary counteroffer
- Request for a salary increase
- Negotiating my salary
- Salary increase request
- Salary negotiation
- About my salary
- I’d like to discuss a raise
- About my salary. . .
General Tips for Writing a Salary Negotiation Email
When crafting a salary increase email, it’s important to adhere to several general principles and guidelines.
Here are the most important ones:
Research the Average Salary for Your Position
In order to be fair and reasonable in your salary negotiation email, you will need to know what other people in similar positions in your industry are making. This will allow you to present a clear, concise, and fair salary request.
Having said that. . .
Ask for an Increase Beyond What You Aim For
This good old haggling tactic is a common practice in salary negotiation. You ask for more money than you would settle for, they negotiate down, and eventually, you meet halfway and come to an agreement. Just be careful not to overdo it.
Make Sure to Highlight Your Qualifications
Be sure to highlight the skills and qualifications that you bring to the table. These are the qualities that make you valuable. If you are presenting a list of your accomplishments, it is important to include your education, training, and certifications. You should also mention your career history and the skills that you have developed. Focus on how you have helped the company grow and thrive and you will have a better chance at getting a higher salary.
Consider Alternative Compensation Options
You might be able to achieve a better outcome if you approach the salary negotiation from a different angle. You could, for instance, consider alternative compensation options such as bonuses, stock options, better health insurance plans, additional vacation days, etc. Proposing and accepting alternative “payment” options could ultimately result in a larger overall package.
Prepare for all Eventualities
Salary negotiations can go different ways, so you should be prepared for a wide range of scenarios. You could get a positive response, a counteroffer, or a flat-out rejection. Either way, you need to be prepared for everything and know what’s acceptable to you and what isn’t even before you get a response. Make sure to prepare email drafts that cover all the different scenarios. Also, take your time to reply, especially if you don’t get the response you were hoping for.
What NOT to include in Your Salary Negotiation Email
Now that you know what to include in a salary increase email, let’s look at the opposite side of the coin. Here are some of the things you should avoid including in your email:
Don’t Let Emotions Get the Better of You
Seeing as we are talking about business negotiations, it is important to stay calm, cool, and collected. Mixing emotions and personal circumstances with business negotiations will make you come across as insecure and unprofessional.
Refrain From Giving Ultimatum
Threatening to quit if you don’t have it your way is a sure way to agitate your boss. Instead of getting a raise, you might get yourself fired.
Don’t Get Greedy
While it’s okay to ask for a higher salary increase than you would settle for, you shouldn’t make unreasonable demands. Inflating your salary expectations and asking for additional incentives on top of that will not go down well with your employer.
Don’t Fabricate Job Offers
Fabricating job offers to get leverage in your pay raise negotiations is never a good idea. Even if you don’t get caught, your boss might decide to not get in your way of landing such a lucrative opportunity. Ouch!
Don’t Be Rude and Unprofessional
You shouldn’t act rude or unprofessional even if negotiations are not going your way. Make sure to remain polite and tactful in your salary negotiation email and don’t let your frustrations get the better of you.
Salary Negotiation Email Samples and Templates for Multiple Scenarios
We have prepared several ready-made salary negotiation email samples that you can use as a reference to write your own.
Salary Negotiation Email After Job Offer Samples
Let’s start off with a couple of examples of a salary negotiation email you would send to a prospective new employer in response to their job offer.
Subject Line: Salary counteroffer
Dear [Employer name]
Thank you for offering me the position of [job title] at [company name]. I truly believe I possess the skill set, experience, and credentials to fit right into your team and contribute to [company name] continued growth.
While I appreciate your offer, I’d like to discuss the proposed salary included in the job offer details I received this morning.
As listed in my resume, I have an intensive experience in [occupation/ field of expertise], having spent [number of years] in a leadership role with [last company name].
My efforts have led to [list your accomplishments here] and I’m confident that I can continue that trajectory at [company name]
I feel that my proven track record warrants a salary of [salary amount], which is slightly higher than what the job offer states.
Please let me know if you agree to further discuss we can continue the discussion about my salary figure for this position.
I am looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Regards,
[Your name]
[Your email signature]
Subject Line: In Response to Your Salary Offer
Hi [Employer’s Name],
Thank you very much for your offer of [proposed salary amount]. After giving it some thought, I’d like us to continue negotiating the proposed amount in the hope of reaching a mutually satisfying agreement.
I’m asking for a salary of [your new salary proposal], which amounts to an increase of [percentage points] on your original offer. I firmly believe that my experience and leadership in this particular industry justify this amount, and hope you would consider my request.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Regards,
[Your name]
[Your email signature]
Subject Line: Request for salary counteroffer
Hi [Employer’s Name],
Thank you for extending your offer of [proposed salary amount]. After careful consideration, I have to say that I truly believe I am worth more than what you are offering me at this time.
To that end, I’d like to counter with a new proposal of [proposed salary amount] per [year/month].
Given my extensive experience in [area of expertise], I am confident I can bring a lot of value to the company.
I hope you will consider my counteroffer and look forward to discussing it further with you. Thank you for your time,
[Your name]
[Your email signature]
Subject Line: Negotiating my starting salary
Hi [Employer Name],
Thank you very much for your offer of [proposed salary amount].
I am excited at the prospect of joining [company name] and working with [supervisor name] and the rest of the team.
Having said that, I would like to discuss the proposed starting salary, which is slightly lower than the industry average.
I did some research and found that the average starting salary for someone in my position is between [x] and [x] per year.
Do you think we can set up a meeting and discuss the offer further?
Thank you for your time,
[Your name]
[Your email signature]
How to Ask For a Raise Email Templates
The following templates will help you craft a professional-looking email when asking for a raise. You can simply copy-paste the content into an email, fill in the blanks and send it to whoever signs your check.
Subject Line: Salary Negotiation Request
Dear [Employer’s Name],
I’ll get straight to the point – I’d like to talk to you about my salary. Although I’m happy with my position at [company name], I believe my current pay does not reflect the value I bring to the company.
I’ve given this a lot of thought and come to the conclusion that I deserve a raise. I would appreciate it if we could discuss my salary at your convenience and I’m eagerly looking forward to hearing your thoughts.
Thank you for your time.
Regards,
[Your name]
[Your email signature]
Subject Line: Requesting a Pay Raise
Hi [Employer’s Name],
I would like to schedule a meeting to discuss my compensation package. I’ve been with the company for [number of years] and I believe that I’m due for a pay raise.
Since my last salary review, I have worked hard to maintain my high productivity levels and have taken on additional responsibilities.
I truly believe the added responsibilities and the increase in workload warrant a raise.
What do you think? Can we arrange a meeting to discuss this further? I look forward to hearing your thoughts about my request,
Yours sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your email signature]
Subject Line: [Your name] – Salary increase request
Hi [Employer’s Name],
I am contacting you to ask for a salary increase. As you know, my current salary is [x], and I would like to request an increase of [proposed salary increase].
Having been with the company for [number of years], I feel like I am a valuable employee and deserve a higher salary.
Over this time period, I developed new skills and acquired new responsibilities that helped me become a valuable asset to the company.
Consequently, I believe my current compensation is not reflective of the value I bring to the table.
What do you think? I look forward to hearing from you.
Best Regards,
[Your name]
[Your email signature]
Subject Line: Salary Meeting Request
Hello [Employer’s Name],
I hope everything is well on your end. I’m reaching out to you to arrange a meeting to discuss my salary. Can you please accommodate my request at a time that works for you?
Thank you in advance, and I hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Subject Line: Regarding my salary…
Hi [Employer’s Name],
I would like to discuss my salary. Even though my current salary is adequate, I feel like my years of experience with the company warrants an increase.
As you know, my current salary is [x]. I am hoping to get an increase of [proposed amount].
I truly believe that I deserve a raise given my contributions to the company since my last salary review.
Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Thanks in advance,
[Your name]
[Your email signature]
Subject Line: I’d like to discuss my salary with you
Hello [Employer’s Name],
I hope this email finds you well. I would like to discuss my salary. I’m fully aware that we are currently operating under budget constraints, but I feel like I deserve a raise. My salary has remained the same since I joined the company [X] years ago.
During that time period, both my responsibilities and workload have increased significantly. Therefore, I believe an increase of [proposed amount] would be fair.
You should also know that I received a job interview invitation email from another company which offered a superior salary of [proposed amount].
Can we discuss this further? I’m willing to negotiate and I’m sure we can reach an agreement.
Thanks for your time,
[Your name]
[Your email signature]
Final Thoughts
Here at Mailvio, we make email and everything about email our business.
The templates above might not get you the raise you deserve, but they will help create a pay raise email worthy of a professional like yourself!
Do you have any questions or comments? If so, please drop one in the comments section below and make sure to visit our blog.
