How do I know if my salary is fair?
Job titles rarely match actual day-to-day responsibilities, leaving professionals guessing whether they are underpaid for their workload. Without a clear way to compare total compensation including bonuses, benefits, and remote arrangements across similar roles, employees cannot confidently ask for a raise.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Researching similar roles and job titles for local market comparisonDid this help you?
- 2Talking to leadership with salary comparablesDid this help you?
- 3Starting job hunting to test the market and get competing offersDid this help you?
- 4Asking peers on online forums about their current compensationDid this help you?
- 5Comparing salaries across different provinces, industries, and organizational sizesDid this help you?
- 6comparing local salaries to Western European salary bandsDid this help you?
- 7applying to other companies to test market valueDid this help you?
- 8tying raise requests directly to product revenue rather than a flat monthly bumpDid this help you?
- 9looking at job postingsDid this help you?
- 10planning to job hop in the futureDid this help you?
- 11shop around for a better offerDid this help you?
- 12wait for a promotion to seniorDid this help you?
- 13relocate and work in the USDid this help you?
- 14Researching general salary ranges based on industry, company size, and responsibilitiesDid this help you?
- 15Comparing compensation against peers with or without a CPA designationDid this help you?
- 16Looking up local salary statisticsDid this help you?
- 17Asking online forums for peer salary comparisonsDid this help you?
- 18Comparing personal compensation against job board salary rangesDid this help you?
- 19Asking peers on online forums about their actual starting salaries and background qualificationsDid this help you?
- 20Asking online forums for peer comparison and compensation dataDid this help you?
- 21Jumping ship to a different companyDid this help you?
- 22Starting to look for other opportunities or a new job elsewhereDid this help you?
- 23Researching average salaries in the local areaDid this help you?
- 24Asking for peer perspective on forums or communities to gauge market rates.Did this help you?
- 25Asking around online for salary benchmarksDid this help you?
- 26Hopping jobs at 2 to 3 years and again at 5 yearsDid this help you?
- 27Testing the market by looking at local job listings to see current salary ranges.Did this help you?
- 28Changing companies every few years to secure larger pay raises.Did this help you?
- 29Upskilling in DevOps/cloud technologies and acquiring certifications using employer funding before job hopping.Did this help you?
- 30Posting personal career stats on anonymous forums to ask peers for evaluationDid this help you?
- 31Pursuing standard industry certifications as a default path to higher incomeDid this help you?
- 32job hopping every 3 years to get market-rate raisesDid this help you?
- 33asking for a raise without leavingDid this help you?
- 34accepting lower pay in exchange for a fully remote schedule and low hoursDid this help you?
- 35Asking industry peers on forums to benchmark current salary and market rates.Did this help you?
- 36Obtaining a professional license (like a CPA) to unlock higher salary bands and promotions.Did this help you?
- 37Leaving the current firm to take a higher-paying job in industry.Did this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Is $73k reasonable for my current experience and responsibilities, or am I underpaid?”source ↗
“I am in exactly your position, same amount of experience, making the exact same salary, well 73.5. In Michigan”source ↗
“I have over 10 years experience and make less than that”source ↗
“I was making $44k at 3 years experience.”source ↗
“Just wondering what everyone thinks if I should ask for more money with all the work I am putting in.”source ↗
“Hi all, just wanted your take on this as I’ve been wondering about it lately.”source ↗
“Am I being underpaid?”source ↗
“I’m currently making $90K and am considering asking for a compensation adjustment. I’m also working toward passing the CFE, but don’t have my CPA yet.”source ↗
“What would you consider a reasonable salary for my situation? Would $105K, $110K, or $115K be too much to ask?”source ↗
“Ok I keep seeing “senior accountant” job opening with ranges from 75k-110k or so. Somewhat HCOL. So is anyone getting newly hired as a senior in the 100k+ range?”source ↗
“Is it 6+ year senior no CPA getting offers of $100k salaries, or am I just under paid?”source ↗
“Please comment comps, need to know if I should jump ship or stay put.”source ↗
“Had comp negotiations and expressed dissatisfaction with my current progression and pay.”source ↗
“Now that I’ve taken ownership of approximately 30 clients and am independently handling both compliance and ongoing advisory responsibilities, I feel that my actual responsibilities are closer to a manager-level position than a traditional associate or senior tax preparer.”source ↗
“I’m planning to have a compensation discussion next month and am hoping to get my salary to at least $125k–$130k+, if not more.”source ↗
“Thoughts on this? Are my expectations reasonable?”source ↗
“My question is what would be a fair pay expectation for the upcoming promotion to account manager (seems to be their version of Jr Accountant?) and then once I have my degree?”source ↗
“I truly have nothing to compare with.”source ↗
“I'm expecting a pretty good bump, just not sure how much of a bump”source ↗
“I’m looking for an honest opinion because I’ve been questioning whether I was actually underpaid or if I was overestimating my skills.”source ↗
“My bigger frustration was the lack of growth and opportunities.”source ↗
“I still haven’t been promoted to senior accountant , and there has never been a real discussion about it.”source ↗
“Eventually, I started feeling like my effort and hard work didn’t really matter.”source ↗
“I’m wondering if I was actually underpaid or if I was just overestimating myself.”source ↗
“I'd like to get your thoughts on my situation and see if I'm just being greedy in wanting more, or if I am potentially underpaid.”source ↗
“Since I've been here for ten years, im starting to wonder if I should continue sticking around or try branching out to something different that pays more, even if it means a 15-30 minute commute.”source ↗
“i also don't want to shoot myself in the foot by choosing to be loyal and not get those raises that everyone else gets by job hopping every 3 years.”source ↗
“I've never asked for one, but wonder if it'd be worth doing so if I am indeed being underpaid.”source ↗
“CPA, LCOL, 2 yoe 50k? 60k? 70k? 80k? 90k? How low is low enough that I should immediately seek a new job and how high would be delusional at the negotiating table?”source ↗
“I was wondering what you are making in your HR Coordinator roles. Salary, bonuses, benefits, in office, remote, hybrid, those sort of things.”source ↗
“I was curious as to what others in michigan particularly west michigan lakeshore area are getting paid and if this seems fair or not.”source ↗
“What salary range would you consider reasonable for this role given the responsibilities and my experience?”source ↗
“Sorry if this is the wrong sub. But I need help in identifying my pricing.”source ↗
“I was thinking of asking for a big bump. Like to 4000 euros a month. Cause I don't have equity or anything if the project becomes super successful.”source ↗
“Looking for an outsider perspective on my situation so I can negotiate a good raise for myself.”source ↗