9 Investigates: How to ask your boss for a raise

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — You probably wish your job paid you more, but most people are afraid to ask for raises -- so they simply don’t. Some studies show as many as 60% of workers just keep it to themselves and hope for the best.

Action 9 investigator Jason Stoogenke sat down with three insiders to give you specifics on how to get a bigger paycheck.

Trisha Ridenour is the director of HR services with The Employers Association, Lizbeth Romero is Goodwill's director of career navigation and Andy Thomas is a career coach and author.

They all know a few things about getting paid and shared their advice with Jason.

>> Watch the video at the top of this webpage for Jason Stoogenke’s full report and advice from the trio on how to approach asking for a raise.

Afraid to ask your boss for a raise? Here’s how:

1. Be specific when you set up the meeting

Tell your boss you'd like to ask for a raise in a few months. Ask if there's anything you should be doing differently between now and then. Set up a specific meeting to discuss the raise. Don't be too casual about it.

"Please don't ask for a raise in an email or in a text to your boss," said Thomas.

"I don't want to catch my boss in the hallway, when he's in a bad mood or when maybe something's not going well," said Ridenour.

2. Have a specific number in mind

"You want to go in and ask for a specific amount or percent," said Ridenhour.

Know what others earn in the same field.

"Ask, ‘What are people making outside of my organization?’" said Romero.

3. Don’t say you need a raise -- say you deserve one

"It should never be the 'Woe is me' or that 'I am having trouble paying my bills.' It should be the value that you bring the organization," Thomas said. "You’re selling yourself. You’re selling what you’ve done throughout the entire year to deserve that raise."

And then put it in writing for your boss.

"Make a list of those accomplishments and also put tangibles and numbers attached to it," Romero said.

4. There are other things besides money

If your boss says “no” to money, ask for something else, like a take-home car or more vacation time. “What’s important to many of my clients is flexibility in work hours, work/life balance,” Thomas said. “The ability to work remotely.”

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