I'm paid below market rate. What should I do?
Direct answerBeing paid below market often happens because you started at a low salary and only got small raises, your role grew without a title change, or you never negotiated. The first step is to confirm the comparison against truly equivalent roles and document how your scope has changed since your last salary review.
How it shows up
You notice that people in similar roles earn more, at other companies or even at yours. You feel undervalued and stuck.
Most likely root causes
- Low starting pointIf you started at a low salary, percentage raises keep the gap with the market over the years.
- Scope grew, title didn'tYou took on more responsibilities, but your title and salary are still the ones you started with.
- Never negotiatedMany companies only revisit the pay of people who ask or who threaten to leave.
- Imprecise comparisonSometimes the role you're comparing to is at a company of a different size, industry, or scope, and the gap isn't so direct.
Quick self-check
- Did you compare against roles with equivalent responsibility?
- Has your scope grown since you were hired?
- Have you ever negotiated salary at this company?
- Did you include benefits in the comparison?
If you answered yes to two or more, start with that cause.
First step today
Today, write a description of what you actually do now and compare it with the job description you were hired for.
30-day plan
- Week 1: confirm the comparison with several sources and equivalent roles, including benefits.
- Weeks 2 and 3: document how your scope has grown and prepare a conversation about your job level and pay.
- Week 4: have the conversation; in parallel, if the answer is no, start talking to the market to learn about real alternatives.
When to seek professional help
Work with a career coach to review your strategy. If you suspect a pay gap based on gender, race, or another discriminatory factor between people in the same role, go to HR and, if needed, an employment lawyer or your local labor authorities.
Frequently asked questions
- Is changing companies the only way?
- Not always, but it's often the fastest way to fix a large gap. It's worth trying an internal negotiation first.
- Can I mention a coworker's salary?
- It's risky. Stick to market benchmarks and your scope, which are stronger arguments.