Do You Think you are Under Paid? – How to Find Out if You Are Underpaid

Pay, income, salary… whatever it is called, it is one huge factor in our professional lives. We work to get paid and this is one major reason why we continue to wake up early in the mornings just to attend to work. Of course, salaries do not stay constant throughout the years. If you are curious if you are under paid or not, then here are some practical but useful tips that can give you an idea if you are indeed due for a raise.

1. Get a number. People get different kinds of pay and, of course, the salary of a person can depend on different factors like seniority, performance or a combination of those two. Before you complain about the current salary you are receiving, it is wise to actually get a number. Ask for the formal salary range for your specific position and then gage whether the income you are receiving currently still within that bracket.
2. Use professional tools. If you are after a salary increase or if you are considering one, then you can maximize some free online tools that can get you a good salary bracket for your position. Using such online tools will, of course, base the answer to your years of experience, geographic location, position and the size of your company. While these tools can greatly help to give you an idea on how much you should be paid, they should not be used as a sole basis for your pay increase plans.
3. Compare shop. Of course, it is always best that you double check data using discreet ways. If you are curious about the current salary rate for your specific position, then you can try applying secretly for the same position in other companies. You can also ask around to see if those people in other companies having the same position as you receive a salary or a compensation package that is near yours. You, of course, have to be discreet about this as it can be viewed as improper or unethical by some.
4. Do not think much of the competition. Many companies do not really encourage co-workers to talk about their salaries or compensation packages openly. Some people simply keep mum about the amount they receive each month. Instead of asking your co-workers or your boss about their salary grade or the money they receive for their work, it is best that you focus on your own performance and on your own overall contribution to the success of your organization. This is a better strategy so that you will not be tied up in comparing too much, thus, forgetting the real valid reasons for a pay increase such as performance.