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Last updated: January 30, 2026
Key Takeaways
- Negotiate Early and Often: Proactively negotiating salary, raises, and benefits at key moments can significantly compound your lifetime earnings and improve overall job satisfaction.
- Build In-Demand
Skills : Investing in high-value skills, certifications, or education increases your marketability and positions you for higher-paying roles and career advancement. - Expand Income Streams: Side hustles, freelancing, or entrepreneurship can supplement income, reduce financial risk, and accelerate progress toward long-term financial goals.
- Increase Visibility at Work: Taking initiative on projects, improving performance, and demonstrating
leadership makes your value clear and strengthens your case for raises or promotions. - Leverage Networks and Mentors: Strong professional relationships and mentorship provide insight, opportunities, and guidance that can meaningfully accelerate career and income growth.
Even if you love your work, the fact of the matter might be that you wish you earned more money. Checking up on wage equality at Hired.com is certainly a good idea, but it’s also best to do everything possible to make employers want to pay you what you’re asking for, or at least be willing to offer you a raise. Here are a few things you can do to effectively increase your overall earning potential.
- Negotiate your salary and benefits when starting a new job or during annual performance reviews. This can significantly impact your long-term earnings and overall job satisfaction.
- Seek out and apply for higher-paying job opportunities. Regularly updating your resume and networking can help you find better-paying positions in your field.
- Develop skills and education that are in high demand and can lead to higher-paying positions. Pursuing certifications or advanced degrees can open doors to more lucrative careers.
- Consider a side hustle or part-time job to supplement your income. This can help you achieve financial goals faster and provide additional job security.
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- Network with industry professionals and attend conferences to learn about job opportunities and career advancements. Building a strong professional network can lead to unexpected career opportunities.
- Start your own business or
freelance work in your area of expertise. Entrepreneurship can offer higher earning potential and greater job satisfaction. - Invest in your retirement and other long-term
savings goals. Consistent investing and saving early can lead to substantial financial security in the future. - Learn how to
budget and manage your finances effectively. Financial literacy is crucial for making informed decisions and avoiding unnecessary debt. - Consider relocating to areas with higher salaries and lower living costs. This can improve your standard of living and increase your disposable income.
- Continuously improve your work performance and
productivity to increase your value to employers. High-performing employees are often rewarded with promotions and raises.
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Ask for a Raise
One effective way to increase your earning potential is to discuss a raise with your employer. If you have been with the company for a significant period, consistently perform at a high level, and are aware that colleagues have received raises, it may be the right time to negotiate one for yourself. Ensure you are well-prepared with evidence of your achievements, an understanding of your market value, and examples of your contributions to the company’s success. A well-timed, well-prepared conversation can significantly enhance your
Utilize resources such as Hired.com to research industry standards and salaries for your current job title. If a financial raise is not possible, consider negotiating for improvements to your benefits or vacation package to increase your overall compensation. Don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself and take action to improve your earning potential.
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Find a Mentor
Besides learning about
Take on Extra Projects
There’s no way around it: If you want to earn higher pay, you’ve got to put in more work. Keep your eyes peeled for new and upcoming projects you feel you’re perfectly suited for. Besides looking for projects, you might even want to think about starting a few on your own. Maybe you think something is lacking in your company, perhaps an opportunity that’s gone unexplored.
Or, it could be that you feel you can make a process more efficient. No matter what it is, take it to your boss to see if you can head the project. Not only are you showing you’ve got initiative, but you also have the chance to change things for the better at your company. By taking on more responsibilities and showcasing your problem-solving and
Besides the direct method, there are also plenty of indirect ways to increase your earning potential. While you might not see immediate results, your hard work is sure to pay off in one way or another.
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Further Guidance & Tools
- Pay Benchmarks: Use the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook to compare typical pay, requirements, and outlook before negotiating or switching roles.
- Salary Ranges: Check Robert Half’s Salary Guide to validate market ranges and strengthen your case for higher compensation.
- PM Upskilling: Explore the Google Project Management Certificate to build high-demand
skills that can translate into higher-paying responsibilities. - Mentor Match: Find guidance through SCORE to get practical feedback on career moves, freelancing, or launching a
small business . - Job Insights: Use LinkedIn Salary Insights to pressure-test compensation expectations when evaluating roles and preparing negotiations.
Next Steps
- Market Check: Research pay ranges for your role, location, and experience level, then write a clear target compensation range.
- Negotiation Prep: Document measurable wins, impact metrics, and scope increases, then practice a concise ask covering
salary and benefits. - Skill
Plan : Choose one high-demand skill to build, then commit to applied practice that creates portfolio proof and credible talking points. - Network Build: Reconnect with colleagues and industry peers, ask smart questions, and share what you’re working on to surface opportunities.
- Income Options: Evaluate side hustle or
freelance ideas aligned with yourstrengths , and test a small offer that’s easy to deliver consistently.
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Final Words
Earning more usually comes down to two levers: increasing your value and improving how you communicate it. Build in-demand
While other books or websites might list a few standard bullet points on the subject from an expert in the HR field, Jim takes a "novel approach," weaving interesting stories, case studies, graphs, humor, and personal experience.
Mark Fiebert is a former finance executive who hired and managed dozens of professionals during his 30-plus-year career. He now shares expert job search, resume, and career advice on CareerAlley.com.
