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[Pastry]

I was just promoted and it kind of took me by surprise, although I knew I was in the running I was offered it out of the blue today. The promotion is from a regular analytics position to having senior in front of my job title and it comes with some increases in responsibility and new duties. I was told by my manager that I would be thrilled with the salary increase but I was kind of stunned and wasn't thinking straight so I didn't ask what the salary would be.

The position is open because the last person to hold it left the company. It's a position that was posted to the public that I ended up applying for also so it's not like the candidates were exclusively internal. When the last person was promoted from my position to the senior one they received a 40% raise. Since I was told I'd be thrilled with the raise I'm assuming that it will be a decent amount but I'm not sure what is a good raise for a promotion since this is my first time ever being internally promoted.

Do positions like these typically have a set salary range and no matter what you fall within that range? So I should expect something within the same ballpark as the last person? I'v heard that sometimes companies will have a cap on promotions where you can only get like a 10% raise or something like that.

 

[entremet]

I was just promoted and it kind of took me by surprise, although I knew I was in the running I was offered it out of the blue today. The promotion is from a regular analytics position to having senior in front of my job title and it comes with some increases in responsibility and new duties. I was told by my manager that I would be thrilled with the salary increase but I was kind of stunned and wasn't thinking straight so I didn't ask what the salary would be.

The position is open because the last person to hold it left the company. It's a position that was posted to the public that I ended up applying for also so it's not like the candidates were exclusively internal. When the last person was promoted from my position to the senior one they received a 40% raise. Since I was told I'd be thrilled with the raise I'm assuming that it will be a decent amount but I'm not sure what is a good raise for a promotion since this is my first time ever being internally promoted.

Do positions like these typically have a set salary range and no matter what you fall within that range? So I should expect something within the same ballpark as the last person? I'v heard that sometimes companies will have a cap on promotions where you can only get like a 10% raise or something like that.

There's no rule. These things are a negotiable. But for internal promotions, employers usually hold the higher bargaining power since they all have the information.

 

[BobLoblaw]

40% is way too high, unless it's either a small company or a highly successful weird one that does stuff like this. Most large companies have a cap of something like 5-10% increase or close to it. My curent employer is in the top 10 in the country in terms of revenue and with us it's about 7% on average. It can go slightly higher, but only in very unusual circumstances (just filling a vacant position isn't one of them). I'm only referring to base salaries though. Bonuses are another story.

 

[Friggz]

every company is going to be different. and a lot of it will depend on how much the manager will fight for your bump. (i work for a fortune 50 company and received a 25 grand bump last year, but my new manager pushed for it)

My best advice is to not have expectations becuase there is a chance you are going to be let down and that would cause unnecessary animosity.


How old are you compared to the person that held the position before you? If you are significantly younger they might also view that as inexperience and reason to not give you a big bump too.

 

[Ashhong]

40% is way too high, unless it's either a small company or a highly successful weird one that does stuff like this. Most large companies have a cap of something like 5-10% increase or close to it. My curent employer is in the top 10 in the country in terms of revenue and with us it's about 7% on average. It can go slightly higher, but only in very unusual circumstances (just filling a vacant position isn't one of them). I'm only referring to base salaries though. Bonuses are another story.

Top 10? Wtf where do you work if you don't mind me asking?

Also I just got promoted as well from a 1 to a 2. I got a 10% raise. I'm sure I could have negotiated but it just feels wrong.

"Hey, you did a great job the last year so we're promoting you. Have 10% raise"
"ehhh can you give me 20?"

 

[Pastry]

40% is way too high, unless it's either a small company or a highly successful weird one that does stuff like this. Most large companies have a cap of something like 5-10% increase or close to it. My curent employer is in the top 10 in the country in terms of revenue and with us it's about 7% on average. It can go slightly higher, but only in very unusual circumstances (just filling a vacant position isn't one of them). I'm only referring to base salaries though. Bonuses are another story.

I know for a fact what the salary for the previous senior person was and their prior salary was roughly equivalent to mine. The senior version of the position didn't exist until they promoted the previous person, they created it at that point. I guess I figured they wouldn't decrease the salary for the position after the previous person left.

every company is going to be different. and a lot of it will depend on how much the manager will fight for your bump.

My best advice is to not have expectations becuase there is a chance you are going to be let down and that would cause unnecessary animosity.


How old are you compared to the person that held the position before you? If you are significantly younger they might also view that as inexperience and reason to not give you a big bump too.

I'm a year or two older than them and thus have more work experience on my resume. Plus I just finished my MBA, was working on it part time.

 

[BobLoblaw]

Top 10? Wtf where do you work if you don't mind me asking?

Also I just got promoted as well from a 1 to a 2. I got a 10% raise. I'm sure I could have negotiated but it just feels wrong.

"Hey, you did a great job the last year so we're promoting you. Have 10% raise"
"ehhh can you give me 20?"

I'll just say we have hundreds of thousands of employees. I had to jump through hoops to get one of my employees a $2 an hour bump. HR kept fighting us on it even though she had been with the company for years and was being promoted. Increases are based on grades and where their current salaries fall within the range for that grade. Moving from one grade to another starts you off near the low end of the next salary tier. If we gave everyone 10% raises, we'd have to fire a shit ton of people.

 

[dreamcastmaster]

Internal promotions means you'll get less money for the position that an outside hire and usually have to keep up some tasks from your previous position.

Move to a new company and you'll get paid more and have a clean slate.

 

[onken]

Completely manager's discretion. If it's a small company and you agreed to the new job without formally talking about the new salary they actually don't have to give you squat. If it's a big company and they're being cheap they will typically make you wait until your next yearly review. My company has a mandatory salary review 3 months after a job change, fwiw.

 

[Kieli]

You might get lucky if your company really wants to keep you, but most salary increases are capped. Often times a promotion is just an excuse for them to lump more work on you for a paltry (almost insulting) bump in salary.

By far the BEST way to get a salary raise commensurate with your growing body of experience is to jump ship. It's stupid how companies would rather pay out of the ass for a new hire compared to fostering their own home-grown employees.

But what do I know, I'm not a shortsighted manager/exec.

 

[PipefishUK]

They'll give you less than everyone else in your department because they'll count on you being grateful for the promotion.

At the same time they'll try and make sure noone discusses what they're on by trying to make you all, individually, think you got a really good deal compared to everyone else - and not to say anything because everyone will get pissed/want it.

In reality everyone apart from a few people will be at the lower end.

 

[CarolinaMike]

As others have said, it is mostly dependent on the company, but I was recently promoted from a level 2 to level 3 position and received a 26% raise.

In my case, my manager was the driving force behind the large increase because he knew I was already working above my level and in turn pushed hard for me to get a larger increase.

From my experience, there are usually rules on capping the increase at a percentage but there are almost always exceptions, You just need a manager that actually cares enough to fight on your behalf.

 

[Lucreto]

I recently got a promotion from the store to a head office position in accounts. I have to sign a new contract and from the look of it I get paid less. I was on a part time contract at the maximum contracted rate as I held the position for 5 years but I could work 39 hours one week then 20 the next, I also get paid weekly. The new contract has me on a guaranteed 39 hours but at a lower rate at a salary.

It is annoying as I want to find a place of my own but can't afford it then they want me to work for less money. I am taking it anyway as I can get some experience in the accounts field which I have none so far and most jobs want a year experience before looking at you and move on next year.

 

[Rad-]

Last time I got offered a promotion it was only 10% which I thought was way too low considering the extra work. I asked for 20%. They didn't agree so I just said you can keep you promotion.

 

[jey_16]

Internal promotions means you'll get less money for the position that an outside hire and usually have to keep up some tasks from your previous position.

Move to a new company and you'll get paid more and have a clean slate.

yep, normally internal promotions don't get as much pay compared to an external hire

 

[Fat4all]

I'd kill for a 40% raise

 

[Kieli]

I'd kill for a 40% raise

Work in a hot field and move to a different company. Boom, 40% raise.

 

[diablos991]

It all depends on the company and how valuable you are. I also negotiate when they are major promotions and not the normal grade 2 to grade 3 stuff.

I've average around 12% pay increase per year with my current employer and have had minor or major promotions about every other year.

Now that I'm in a leadership position that gets even sweeter with the bonuses.

That being said I've been at companies that give shit raises and tell their employees the raise is great.

Bottom line is you will be paid what you are worth if you spend the time earning it, justifying it, and negotiating it.

 

[Friggz]

It all depends on the company and how valuable you are. I also negotiate when they are major promotions and not the normal grade 2 to grade 3 stuff.

I've average around 12% pay increase per year with my current employer and have had minor or major promotions about every other year.

Now that I'm in a leadership position that gets even sweeter with the bonuses.

That being said I've been at companies that give shit raises and tell their employees the raise is great.

Bottom line is you will be paid what you are worth if you spend the time earning it, justifying it, and negotiating it.

12% yearly raises is absolutely insane. i work at a big company and my yearly reviews put me in the top 3% of about 8500 people and i only get about 3% at most.

Spoiler

Spoiler

granted with a 15-20% bonus

 

[Pastry]

Thanks for the advice y'all. I'll keep my expectations in check regarding the salary increase.

 

[oneils]

40% is way too high, unless it's either a small company or a highly successful weird one that does stuff like this. Most large companies have a cap of something like 5-10% increase or close to it. My curent employer is in the top 10 in the country in terms of revenue and with us it's about 7% on average. It can go slightly higher, but only in very unusual circumstances (just filling a vacant position isn't one of them). I'm only referring to base salaries though. Bonuses are another story.

Cap of 7% raise due to promotion? Op is discussing promotions not raises. If your company caps promotions at 7% why would anyone want to get promoted? I assume that you are really talking about increments or step ups in pay grades or ranges rather than promotions.

 

[kirblar]

40% - is it going to management from a non-management role?

 

[Pastry]

40% - is it going to management from a non-management role?

It's technically non-management but I would have someone under me that I would be directing on projects. I wouldn't be that person's direct report though, just guiding them on projects. The promotion increases my visibility in the company, I'll be working on a pretty big project directly impacting executive management.

 

[Moral Panic]

If it was a publicly posted position then you should be able to find out what the salary range is no?

 

[TarpitCarnivore]

It's possible the 40% jump was because their pay was lower than yours before the promotion.

I'd go on Glassdoor or Salary and see if you can find salaries for similar titles in your area. I'd then aim for market average, provided it's not like a 80% increase.