How To Negotiate Your Salary For A Remote Job In 2024

If you've been working remotely for some time, and you've been watching the news lately on companies enforcing RTO (return to office) mandates, you're likely worried about rocking the boat and doing anything that would cause you to be viewed unfavorably by your employer and lose your remote job.

Should you just settle and be content to continue working remotely while your pay remains stagnant for years?

How do you bring up the salary discussion with your boss—or should it even be mentioned?

The good news is that, now that you're working remotely, the shift and balance of power is in your hands, according to Wrike, who noted in their 2022 analysis that remote workers can expect to get paid up to 25% more on average than their in-office counterparts. This is likely because employers have less overheads to worry about, so they are able to free up their office money and pour them into salaries, giving you a salary advantage if you lean into it.

Additionally, industries evolve rapidly, and the tools and talent required to fill the gaps in them are also in high demand and moving fast. As demand increases, average pay ranges also rise, and responsibilities and skill sets evolve and continue. This remains the case whether you work from home or not—it's still the same job that's being performed, regardless of your location.

But unfortunately, bringing up the topic of salary negotiations is our least favorite thing to do at work. It makes us feel uncomfortable—mostly because we're scared of...what's the worst thing that could happen? A flat-out no. Or worse, your employer suspects that you're researching the job market and they lay you off.

Yes, that's a possibility. But it's better to at least try, than to not try at all.

Here are some simple steps to take and considerations for negotiating your current salary with your employer:

1. Prepare For Your Meeting

To adequately prepare for a frank conversation with your employer about your compensation, take time to evaluate your prior performance over the past six months to one year. Gather data on your accomplishments, projects you've completed and their results, and any additional responsibilities you’ve taken on since your last review, and create a detailed list of your contributions, remembering to include specific examples and results that highlight your value to the company.

Build your case by being specific with quantifying your examples that show how your work has benefited the company. For instance, "Increased overall revenue by 20%" or "Implemented a new system process that reduced costs by $15,000 in Q1."

You should also find out what other professionals in similar roles within your industry and geographical area are earning, using salary calculators such as PayScale and Salary.com. These can also indicate what your co-workers in the same or similar role may be earning, as some salary transparency sites share company-specific information.

2. Time It Right

Timing is everything. A conversation about a potential salary increase is not one that you should rush. It deserves full attention, and to accomplish this effectively, select the right timing. For example, you might decide to align your request with your company’s performance review cycle, if possible.

You can also choose a time when the company is doing well financially, such as after a successful quarter, or defer your request until after you've led the completion of a major project or have received positive feedback from senior management.

Then, you can request a one-on-one meeting with your manager to discuss your salary, making it clear that you want to have a focused discussion about your remote work performance and the potential for a raise.

3. Communicate Positively

The big day has finally arrived and it's time for your salary review meeting. Now that you have conducted all your research and have data on your new salary expectations, as well as documentation on your performance and unique contributions so far, remember to breathe and communicate confidently while remembering to not sound arrogant, confrontational, or entitled. Keep the conversation positive, start by expressing appreciation for the job and opportunities you've had so far, and be open to negotiation and a potential no.

Consider your plan B if your request is declined.

For example, will you ask for constructive feedback on what you can do to earn a raise in the future? Are you open to receiving a smaller raise, gradually increasing in increments? Or is the employer being totally unreasonable, and if that is the case, are you going to look elsewhere for your next remote job that pays you what you deserve?

Through adequate preparation and research, carefully selecting the right timing, and communicating with confidence while being open to alternatives, your next salary negotiation conversation will go smoothly and you can walk away with a positive outcome.