How to Ask for a Raise via Email (with Templates to Use)

Asking for a raise can be an intimidating task. But in today’s digital age, emails can be a powerful and efficient way of workplace communication, which includes asking for a well-deserved raise.

Here’s our ultimate guide on how to ask for a raise via email, complete with 3 ready-made templates you can use.

Let’s have a look!

Should you use email to ask for a raise?

Yes, asking for a raise via email is perfectly acceptable, as long as you do it the right way.

Since you’re frequently communicating with your boss through email, it only makes sense to also use this method to ask for a raise. However, the way that you go about writing this email makes all the difference.

We recommend mentioning that you would like a raise and asking for an opportunity to discuss your salary with your boss.

Rather than just demanding a raise upfront through email, communicate what your intentions are and request to schedule a meeting where you can present your case and negotiate terms in person.

When is the right time to ask for a raise?

The success of your raise request depends on the timing. Here are some of the best times to ask for a raise.

• After you’ve just been hired – if you’re just starting at a new job and feel like you’ve been lowballed, ask for a raise before you begin working, especially if you’ve been dumped with additional responsibility that wasn’t included in your job description. Highlight the extra work you’re being expected to do and ask for compensation. This is the best time for your request to get acknowledged by the management.

• Your company anniversary date – If you’re hitting a certain number of years (or even months) at your company, highlight your performance and loyalty at this point and ask for a raise.

• After a performance review – Performance reviews are the optimal time to ask for a raise. Use this opportunity to highlight your valuable contributions and show why you are deserving.

How to prepare for a raise?

A strong raise request is backed by good preparation and research. Instead of making headstrong demands about why you deserve more compensation, take some time to prepare your case using these three steps.

1. Market research

A bit of homework goes a long way. Conduct market research by comparing your current salary with average pay for similar positions.

You can use online tools like Payscale or Salary.com but don’t depend too much on them. Instead, consider asking around on online forums — especially Reddit — where you’re more likely to receive accurate information.

Base your expectations on these numbers — it will make your negotiation more fair and grounded.

2. Your value

Take some time to reflect on what you bring to the company. Think about your work contributions, your unique skills, experience, and successes, and make sure to mention them in your negotiations.

Knowing where you stand with the company can help you present your case better.

3. Your achievements and contributions

Don’t speak of your value to the company in purely abstract terms — bring out the big numbers.

Prepare a list of your primary accomplishments and key contributions, such as positive feedback you’ve received, your success rate at the job you’re given, the revenue you’ve generated, or projects you have started or led.

Bring out these numbers as concrete evidence of how productive and efficient you are.

3 Email Templates you Can Use to Ask For a Raise

Time for the juice — here are three raise request email templates to try.

1. A brief email to request a meeting

2. A more detailed request based on performance

3. Request based on achievements, research, and reasoning

What to Keep in Mind When Writing an Email for a Raise?

A raise request email should be exquisitely crafted. Here are five things to always keep in mind when writing one.

1) Make your request clear

When writing an email for a raise, it’s best to not beat about the bush. Use the email’s subject line to be upfront about your request — be professional, clear, and to the point.

Your subject line can look like “Request for salary review – [Name]” to immediately communicate the email’s purpose.

2) Backup your request with good reasoning

If you’ve done your prep well, this point should be easy to follow. Use a list of your recent accomplishments, talk about your value, industry average pay data, and other things you can use to your advantage.

Don’t just demand a raise, prove to your employer that you deserve one.

3) Be polite

Always be polite, courteous, and professional. Thank your boss for their time and for considering your request, and use formal salutations when writing.

4) Keep it short and to the point

Don’t overload your boss with information through the email. Keep it short and sweet. Mention that you’d like to ask for a raise, highlight a few key accomplishments, and request an in-person meeting to discuss your case further.

5) Set up an email sequence to follow up

Give your boss enough time to consider your request and get back to you. Ideally, you should wait around a week and if you still don’t receive a response, send a polite follow-up email to remind them.

You can use Right Inbox’s Sequences to automate the follow-up. They can be configured to send automatically if your boss doesn’t reply. Just make sure to write down a follow-up email and save it as a template that Right Inbox can use.

If your boss replies before the set follow-up date, it will get automatically canceled.

Asking for a Raise by Email Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How much raise should I ask for?

Generally, you can ask anywhere between a 10% to 20% raise. However, the exact raise you ask for depends on your performance, your length of time at work, and other factors such as recent successes or project completions.

What to do if my raise request is denied?

If your raise request has been denied, take a step back and try to understand the reason for the denial.

If this hasn’t been made clear to you, don’t shy away from asking why. You can then decide if you wish to pursue the raise at a later date, improve your performance, or be more proactive. I

If you truly feel like you’re being paid less than you deserve, consider an alternative work option.

What not to say when asking for a raise?

While you should express your case well, avoid using phrases like “I feel like..”, “I’m overdue for a raise”, or “I will leave unless…” These reflect badly on your professionalism and might harm your case.