How much of a raise should I ask for in 2027?

Updated November 6, 2026

U.S. employers plan to raise pay by 3.5% on average in 2027 (Mercer, Payscale, The Conference Board, Salary.com). Ask for 3 to 5% in a normal year, 5 to 10% if your job grew, and enough to reach the median for your job and city if you are below it.

Find your situation

1. A normal year: 3 to 5%

Merit budgets, the part tied to performance, sit at 3.0 to 3.2%. Your manager splits the budget: some people get more, some get less. Pick one number near the top of the range, and bring proof of what you delivered.

2. Your job grew: 5 to 10%

If you took on a bigger scope, new people or a key project, benchmark your pay against the job you do now, not against the raise budget. Ask for one number between 5 and 10%, or for the title that matches the work. Bring three specific wins.

3. You are below the market: ask for the gap

Compare your total pay (base, commission and tips, without overtime) to the median for your job in your metro area, from official Bureau of Labor Statistics data (how the check works). If you are below it, the gap is your number.

Example: a registered nurse in the Tampa area earns $78,000. The median for registered nurses there is $85,470 (BLS, May 2025). The gap is $7,470, or 9.6%. The ask: about $85,500.

What makes the ask work

• One number, not a range. Give a range and you'll get the low end.
• A source for the number: the market median for your job and city.
• Proof: three wins, each with what you did, when, and the result. How to get them.
• A reply ready for "there's no budget". What to say.

Questions