All Computer and Systems Analysts (United States)

I think asking for a raise is always a risk; I believe some performance based requests make it easier. After a few months in a new group I had taken on several new responsibilities and had managed to stay clear of conflicts in the group. I asked for a raise and got more then I thought I would get. My boss, then, gave me a 25% raise. I almost passed out.

Now I work for the same Company with a different boss, which was of no choice of my own, and have taken on way more responsibility and requested a raise with no result.

Considering there are many higher paying jobs in the L.A. area, I am requesting $15,000 in relocation costs from the company that I am interviewing with.

If you believe you are not paid a fair wage and you have spent considerable time in the industry and possess knowledge of the industry your products target then try starting your own business.

Ask what the salary range is; if your expectations or experience warrants the top, ask how you will be promoted and when; if there is no room for pay neg. then ask for other things like vacation, 5 yrs time in service (gets you more vacation and you get immediate vesting)

My advice is to not work for county governments until they can bring their payscales up to median range. There are 6 people who run the whole computer department for the county who have a total workforce of over 650 people and growing. We have to constantly wear multiple hats and we work hard only to be paid up to half of what the median salary range is for our job description. It's very disheartening when you are an expert in the IT industry and you can't even be paid enough to afford a home, car, insurance, utilities, groceries, and have some on the side to keep you from being miserable. When are government entities going to wake up and logically look at what they are doing to their employees and they wonder why they have such a high turnover rate and not enough people to train these cycling individuals. It's pitiful.

I have worked for three different agencies. The first two I worked for I simply asked for a raise after the end of the first year stating I had been there for a year, the company I was working for was happy with my work. In both cases the bill rate had not changed but the agency took a smaller percentage and gave a raise out of profit margin. This only happened on the first year. I am currently persuing a raise on the same basis with the agency I am currently working with.

I had a good relationship with the CEO of my last job, and I was still in college at the time. So after I was done with school, I asked for a raise and made a pretty decent argument for it, and I got it!

Move to another big city like New York, Seattle, or work for well known company like Microsoft.