Guides for the moments that decide your pay
Four situations come up again and again: a review, a promotion, an application, a resume. Each guide is practical, written by someone who has sat on the employer's side of the table, and points to the tools that do the math.
Negotiating a pay change
When to ask, what number to name, what the manager is actually weighing, and what to do when the answer is "not this year." Includes the one-page case format and the scripts.
Guide coming soon. Browse articles →Navigating a promotion
Title changes and pay changes don't always travel together. How to make sure yours do, what a promotion is worth in your state, and how to handle "more scope, same pay."
Guide coming soon. Browse articles →Applying with the number in hand
Reading a posted range, answering "what are your salary expectations," and knowing your rights in transparency states. Look the role up before the first call, not after the offer.
Guide coming soon. Browse articles →A resume that supports the number
Results with numbers beat responsibilities without them. How to write the three lines that justify a market-rate offer, and how a compensation person reads a resume in ninety seconds.
Guide coming soon. Browse articles →Free tools that go with the guides
New articles, salary trends by role and state, and the podcast live on the articles site.
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What It Pays™ provides pay data and tools for informational and educational purposes only. It is not legal, tax, financial, or employment advice. Salary figures are estimates drawn from government-published data and may not reflect any specific employer or offer.