How to negotiate a raise with another job offer
Updated
Only use an offer you would really take, tell your manager you'd prefer to stay, and say what it would take. A real offer is the strongest proof of your market value, but it changes the relationship: your manager now knows you are looking. Decide before the meeting what you will do if they say no, or match only part of it.
What to do
- Get the offer in writing. Salary, title, start date, and benefits. Never bluff with an offer you don't have; it is easy to call.
- Decide your answer first. Write down the number at which you'd stay, and whether you'd leave if they don't meet it. Think about why you started looking: if it wasn't only money, a raise won't fix it.
- Tell your manager in person. Say you weren't trying to leave, an offer came in, and you'd rather stay. Share the salary, not the company name.
- Give a short, real deadline. Two or three working days is normal. Ask for any counteroffer in writing.
- Compare the whole picture. Weigh pay, title, growth, manager, and flexibility, not just the number. If you leave, see how to tell your boss you're quitting.
What to say
Say this to your manager, face to face:
I want to be upfront with you. I've received an offer from another company at [offer amount]. I wasn't actively trying to leave, and I'd rather stay here, because I like the team and the work. If we can get my salary to [your number], I'll turn it down. I need to give them an answer by Thursday.
Avoid
- Don't bluff or inflate the offer; recruiters and managers often check.
- Don't use the same tactic twice at one company; the second time, they may let you go.
- Don't accept a counteroffer that fixes pay but not the reason you started looking.
Questions
Is switching jobs usually better for pay than staying?
It can be. A Pew Research Center analysis found that from April 2021 to March 2022, 60% of US workers who switched jobs saw their real earnings rise, compared with 47% of those who stayed. That was a strong job market, so check current conditions in your field.
Should I tell my boss which company made the offer?
You don't have to. Sharing the salary and role is enough, and keeping the name private avoids awkward calls between companies.
What if they match the offer?
Ask for it in writing, then decide based on what you wrote down before the meeting. Turn down the other company politely and quickly.