What am I Worth?

Before negotiating a staring salary or raise,  know what your worth in the market place.  Web sites like salaryexpert.com or payscale.com are a great place to find out the salary range for job.  Another useful guide is the Occupational Outlook handbook from the Labor Department.

Remember to frame the discussion as a benefit to your employer.  At a minimum your employer should agree to match inflation annually, which has averaged 3% over the past decade.  Companies rarely deny merit-based wage increases because pay is the most fundamental tool for attracting and keeping valuable employees.  

Click here for additional information about negotiating a raise from the New York Times.