7 Ways To Get a Raise Without Asking

Written by C. James on updated
Two people in business attire shaking hands in the foreground. In the background, a diverse group of people stands clapping and smiling, suggesting a celebratory or successful event in a modern office setting.
Bevan Goldswain/istockphoto

If you’re at a point in your career where you’re hoping to get a raise, you’re not alone. Plenty of people would love to take home a bigger paycheck. However, sometimes promotions are few and far between, and asking for a raise isn’t always an option. So how do you stack the chips in your favor and become indispensable to your employer? Here are some subtle ways to do just that in the hopes of getting a raise without asking.

1. Be a Jack of All Trades

Three people in an office gather around a laptop, discussing its screen. A man in glasses points at the laptop while two women look on attentively. A table with papers and a glass of water, and a large monitor displaying charts are visible.
Jacob Wackerhausen/istockphoto
Jacob Wackerhausen/istockphoto

Be the go-to person in the company who other people can approach for any particular subject connected to your field. In short, be a jack of all trades.

Let’s say you’re a product manager in the marketing department for a particular brand. In your free time, conduct research about your field, your customer, and your competitors. Share news articles with the rest of you team, your boss and others in the business. Join associations and organizations tied to your industry, and take leadership positions in these organizations. Going above and beyond your job description is a great way for you to stand out and be unique.

2. Make Your Boss Look Great

A woman and a man are working on a laptop at a desk in a bright office. The woman is standing and looking at the screen, while the man is seated, typing or reading. The room has shelves with books and plants in the background.
shironosov/istockphoto
shironosov/istockphoto

Office politics is just a fact of life and an important tool to manage your career. One way to participate? Make your boss look like a great leader. Tell management what a critical employee your boss is. Or, when you have a great idea, don’t take full credit and tell everyone that the idea would have never come to fruition if it weren’t for the support from your direct leader. If there are specific awards your organization has, nominate them for those awards. Your boss will remember your dedication and, hopefully, bring you with him or her on the way up.

3. Take on High Profile Projects

A person in a yellow shirt stands and presents to a group of people seated around a table in a bright meeting room. A whiteboard with notes is visible in the background. Natural light streams in through large windows.
JLco – Julia Amaral/istockphoto
JLco - Julia Amaral/istockphoto

It might take you a while, but you need to take the initiative and ask for a high profile project. Being in this scenario will help your name float to the right corners of the company, which will help the top management become aware of your existence.

The best way to reach that promotion and a higher salary is to be at the center of projects that the company is counting on. Those are the projects with the highest budgets, the most support, and direct access to senior folks. Performing well under these circumstance will get you more high profile projects in the future — and with that, hopefully, will come extra pay.

4. Own Up to Your Mistakes

A person with long dark hair is sitting in front of a laptop, holding their temples and appearing frustrated or stressed. They are wearing a light-colored shirt and jewelry. The background is a softly lit room.
Jacob Wackerhausen/istockphoto
Jacob Wackerhausen/istockphoto

Accountability and integrity are two of the most essential characteristics of an employee. Most people try to cover up their mistakes to keep their image squeaky clean. If you want to be trusted enough for a position at the top, you have to show your boss that you’re not scared of owning up to your mistake. Believe it or not, he or she will be amazed by your courage. Take note that when you undergo a failure or error, give your boss a heads-up and a brief explanation. And, of course, be sure to have a solution ready.

5. Volunteer for an Unwanted Job

Volunteers wearing blue shirts organize food items in boxes at a community center. They are sorting canned goods, produce, and other essentials, while one person reads from a list. The group appears engaged and collaborative.
Vladimir Vladimirov/istockphoto
Vladimir Vladimirov/istockphoto

It’s a reality in the workplace that there are tasks that no one wants to take part in. They may be difficult, uncomfortable or just boring, but volunteering for it can be a sign of a team player. Employers love that!

Additionally, taking on tasks outside your standard position — like organizing a charity event, holiday party, or introducing new employee engagement projects — is a great way to become valuable and tie your name to the business.

6. Build Relationships With Other Departments

Five professionals, three women and two men, are engaged in a discussion around a table in a bright office. Papers and a laptop are on the table, and they seem to be collaborating effectively.
skynesher/istockphoto
skynesher/istockphoto

In the modern office setting, it’s already a given that you’ll be collaborating with other departments. It might be in the form of asking input and advice for a specific task or direct teamwork for a particular project. With this in mind, you need to build a relationship with everyone in the office. You can use these connections in situations where you will need a favor. Saving the day will definitely blow your boss’s mind away!

7. Get a Mentor

Two women walk down a bright, glass-walled corridor, holding folders and engaging in conversation. The modern office setting features wooden floors and visible office spaces with red chairs in the background.
andresr/istockphoto
andresr/istockphoto

You need to have a mentor to help guide you through office politics and to have your back when issues come up. This should be someone who has power and clout within the organization. They can help you with strategies to climb the corporate ladder, warn you about what landmines to avoid at the workplace, and put in a good word for you at the top.