How to talk about salary with employers
NEW YORK (FOX 5 NEWS) - People would rather get a root canal than ask for a raise, according to a recent survey by Robert Half staffing agency. To help ease that pain, Robert Half publishes annual salary guides, which make talking about money less stressful.
Senior district director Dawn Fay says Robert Half gathers data throughout the year and compiles it into those guides, which give people the opportunity to understand what certain jobs are paying in their city and across the country.
Salaries in New York are up about 3 percent to 4 percent this year and should do the same next year across a wide range of jobs and industries.
Dawn says executive assistants and administrative assistants are in hot demand right now. Senior accountants are also hot jobs right now, along with jobs in technology, customer service, professional services, healthcare, real estate, and media.
So what can mid-level employees in those fields expect to make?
Dawn says the mid-point salary for executive assistants in New York is about $73,000. Keep in mind, New York salaries are about 40 percent higher than the rest of the country.
Mid-level salaries on the tech side are about $130,000, she says.
Senior accountants and front-end developers are usually in the low $100,000 range.
Dawn says finding the right job is also about finding the right fit, so besides compensation, job seekers are asking about four other "C"s: corporate culture, commute, cost of living, and career path.
People really want to know if they can get into a role and advance and how the company will help them take those next steps.
So, how do you bring up compensation with a boss or future boss? Dawn says you need to do your best to take the emotion out of the conversation. Even try practicing the conversation with a professional mentor first.
Don't have those conversations with your colleagues. Dawn says the rule of thumb is that you shouldn't talk to anyone at work, other than your direct manager, about your compensation.