[Justan]

Not that it likely happens often but what is a typical amount folks get when they get a pay increase? I mean by % increase not actual amount. Is there a typical amount or formula for this? TIA

[Backpacker Joe]

[TravelHiker]

Over the last 3 years I average 3.0% pay increases in the finance/consulting world as a peon. Prior to that I was in the aerospace union where the increases followed a formula -- minimum increase (1-2%), and a merit increase -- too complicated to explain that. I think ideally that increases should tie to inflation, but oftentimes it does not. My observations are that increases depend on the industry you work in, the type of work you're doing, and how well the company is faring. Lots of data and cross-sectional analysis going on there to determine 'appropriate' increases. Maybe someone with a compensation background could comment.

[Elvis]

Union... read the contract. Non Union... depends on a million factors. From a 'corporate budgeting' perspective, it is typical for a company to budget an overall raise %... expecting that the average raise will be somewhat close for all the employees taken as a whole. When it comes down to determining what an individual persons raise will be for that year, again, it depends on a million factors. In my personal experience, when I've started a new job, my first few raises were typically much more than the 'standard cost of living' figures that I expected, but as time goes on, they would tend to gradually decrease toward the cost of living number. If you are new to a job, inquire with your co-workers about what typically happens in your company. Of course, depending on your relationship with your boss, it might be best just to be direct and inquire with him(her). Unless you have a strong position/support/evidence to demand a raise, I would just expect a reasonable 2-3% increase... unless you are already being paid higher than your 'market value'... then don't expect anything.

[Stefan]

2%

[polecatjoe]

Lately, between 3 and 5 %

[qm1pooh]

This year in the Navy 3.5% My best was during the Clinton Years -1999- 6.2% ( That was with the Paygrade adjustment)

[Nomad]

This year our groups "average" is expected to be around 4%.

[Riverside Laker]

I hiked with a manager from Microsoft last fall. He told me he gave a guy in his group a 42% increase last year. Dude was a friggin' hero, man.

[Newt]

I work for the state and haven't gotten any kind of a raise in a couple of years. Maybe this year? Newt

[peppersteak'n'ale]

3-4% on an average year, only 2% this year (cheep)

[Slugman]

No raise of any kind for four years in a row. So I guess that's one quarter of zero percent.

[Slugman]

Whoops, spoke too soon. I just got my paycheck for January, and it includes a 20% pay raise. The other manager got 10%, and I made 10% less before this, so now we are equal. So, 4 years divided by 20%, that's 5% per year. But it actually works out to a bit less than that, because at 5% per year I would have had extra money incrementally these last few years. But I'm sure not complaining! They say that hard work and dedication pays off, and this raise proves "them" to be complete idiots.