You open your payslip. Nothing’s changed. But something feels… off.
You’ve gained experience, taken on more responsibility, and you’ve seen job ads offering higher pay for your exact role. Even new hires at your company seem to be earning more.
Is it time for a promotion? Maybe. But what you might really need is something more subtle: a market adjustment raise.
A market adjustment raise is a salary increase given to align your compensation with current market rates. It’s not based on your performance or a new title. It’s about fairness. It's about catching up.
Think of it as a salary course correction.
Companies issue market adjustments when they realize that employees are being paid below the going rate for their role, level, and location (or remote equivalent).
Sometimes it happens quietly. Sometimes you have to ask for it. Either way, it's 100% legit to want your pay to reflect the real market, not a 2-year-old budget spreadsheet.
Tech roles in particular change value quickly. A backend dev earning $90K in 2022 might now command $115K+ without doing anything new. Inflation, demand, and skill scarcity play a big role.
If a company is offering new team members higher salaries than tenured employees in the same role, things can get awkward. A market adjustment helps close that gap.
Companies focused on DEI or preparing for compliance (hello, EU Pay Transparency Directive) often conduct internal audits. If they uncover discrepancies, they’ll offer market adjustments to correct them.
If a valued employee is underpaid, they’re one email from a recruiter away from leaving. Proactive market adjustments are often cheaper than replacing talent.
Let’s break it down:
Both matter. But one is about how well you work. The other is about how fairly you’re paid.
Ask yourself:
Still unsure? Check this guide with 7 ways to know if you're underpaid.
Use tools like PayScope to get:
Bring this to the conversation, not assumptions.
Instead of “I want a raise,” try:
“Based on current market data, my compensation appears to be significantly below the range for this role. Can we talk about bringing it into alignment?”
This makes it about fairness, not ego.
Want more tips? Here's how to ask for a raise without sounding awkward.
Nope. Even in companies that do them, they often:
If your company doesn’t offer them regularly, you may have to bring it up yourself (politely, with receipts).
If you've stayed with a company for years without seeing your pay evolve, you're not "lucky to have a job." You might be historically underpaid.
Market adjustment raises aren’t rewards. They’re repairs.
And you have every right to ask for one.
Use PayScope.ai to:
No signup. No fluff. Just market clarity.
Because if the market changed and your salary didn’t... you deserve to know.
Know your worth with real-time, resume-based salary insights. No guessing. No forms. Just fast, personalized results, completely free.