Need a raise, how to ask?

Get an outside offer from some place you are willing to work at. Either they match it or they don't it's all one to you. Frame it as you having to do what's right for you and that you can't afford to leave that kind of money on the table. Working careers are short and you will never get that money back if pass on it.

It's the truth and it's something any half way decent manager can understand. It's not personal it's just a typical business decision for both parties. Expect that they may not match immediately. They will try to get you to wait a year or till the next cycle. The response is that you don't want to wait or leave money on the table due to the time value of money and the risk you are shouldering. Either they concede, sweeten the pot, or pass.

If you do end up with future promises get it in writing signed by your manager. Read it and make sure there are no games.

I wouldn't bother with estimates or middle grounds. Where the rubber meets the road is what kind offer you can get somewhere else. You are asking for a pittance from them and for the most part unless it's a failing business they shouldn't care.

> I know I can find work that pays more, yet I do not have another offer

Read the true story I wrote below [1]. You don't want to look like a mercenary ("give me a raise or I quit"). But you do want to be paid fairly. Get an "informal" offer. Then tell your boss that you really want to stay with them, but the "outside market" is telling you that you are underpaid.

That approach has worked for me in real life.

[1] https://medium.com/@alain94040/how-to-negotiate-a-raise-9166...

The cap is crap of course. That is just their mechanism to avoid paying market.

One of the reasons that is hard to get raises is that employers find it hard to adjust their perception of your new worth once you "level up". You may be a brain surgeon now but to them, you're still the kid who used to mow their lawn.

It is quite possible that you might not be worth the same to them as you would to another company i.e. market.

You may not have a future there if you want to get paid what you are worth. :-(

I was interviewed for this article on the General Assembly blog, and it is a direct answer to your question:

How to (successfully) ask for a raise: https://generalassemb.ly/blog/how-to-successfully-ask-for-a-...

In your paragraph that starts with "How can I go about asking for a raise?", I think your plan is very good. Estimate your market value, adjust that market value for the specific value you add to your company (accounting for things like your statement that "...it'd still be cheaper for the company to give me a hefty raise rather than finding someone...") and make that your goal.

List the additional things you're doing to add value to the company since your current salary was set (you've basically already done this in your post here).

Find examples of praise that you've gotten from colleagues. Bundle that all up and there's your case for a raise. I recommend talking to your manager about it (requesting your raise in a 1-on-1), then following up with a written request via email so it can be circulated to the deciders.

That's about the best you can do as far as making a case for a raise. The real question is whether you'll go elsewhere if you determine that you're significantly under-paid and your company can't adjust your salary to reflect the value you add there. And of course that's something you'll have to determine on your own, but looking elsewhere (Google) is a good start.

Good luck!

There is no such thing as "you need a raise"

There is only "Holy crap, we cannot afford to lose John, we better give him a raise NOW"

You don't need an outside offer to ask for a raise. The cap for raises is nonsense. It may present a psychological barrier to your manager but mostly it is a prop to point to; so your manager can say "not my fault- see there's a sign that says no raises above 10%". The trick is they can give you more than 10% if it involves a promotion. The other trick is that raises are difficult to ask for.

You have a cogent argument for a promotion and raise. Ask for it. Present your argument minus anything that could be viewed as a threat (like interviewing at Google).

Employee "What do I need to do in order to [be paid X/get Y promotion]?"

Boss "Are you sure you want to [be paid X/get Y promotion]?"

In a sane organisation, this conversation should be possible. As you're working remotely, the boss may be unaware of creep with more and more responsibility you're taking. They should be reminded. Most people I've met are incredibly bad at managing directs remotely.

I think I've decided to take a different approach...

I want to know what I can do to be inline with the rest of the industry. I think it makes sense to propose this as a question to my boss(es) after highlighting my accomplishments, etc.

At least, if they respond: "You'll never make that much money" - then I know where I stand. And this way, they know that I'm currently sizing myself up to the rest of the averages out there.

Also, just stating that if Google throws me an offer, I'm obviously going to take it... but I'm not banking on that.

This pay raise demand would be the latter if/else in the Google offer edge-case!

You know already: without an offer, you are worth what you are currently paid. That said, raising informally the issue with your boss will let you know where you do stand.

Why do you need a raise?