You’ve earned it. You know you’ve earned it. So why is this email sitting in your drafts for the third day in a row?
You type a sentence, delete it. Try again. Too aggressive. Try softer. Now it sounds weak. Close the laptop. Tell yourself you’ll send it tomorrow.
Sound familiar?
Asking for a raise via email is one of those tasks that feels way harder than it should be. Not because the writing is complicated. Because the stakes feel personal. This isn’t a project update or a meeting request. This is you saying, out loud, “I deserve more.”
And that’s terrifying.
Here’s what helps: structure. When you know exactly what to say, when to say it, and how to phrase it, the email practically writes itself. That’s what this guide gives you. Six copy-paste raise request email templates for different scenarios, plus a step-by-step framework so you can craft your own.
Let’s get you paid what you’re worth.
Is Email the Right Way to Ask for a Raise?
Short answer: yes, for most situations.
Some career advice says you should only ask for a raise face-to-face. That advice made sense in 2005. In 2026, email is how most professional conversations start, and a salary increase request is no exception.
Here’s why email actually works better for asking for a raise:
You get to choose your words carefully. In a live conversation, nerves take over. You ramble. You undersell yourself. An email lets you make your case clearly, without the pressure of someone staring at you while you do it.
Your manager gets time to process. A surprise face-to-face conversation about money puts your boss on the spot. An email gives them space to review your request, check budgets, and come back with a real answer instead of a knee-jerk reaction.
There’s a written record. If your manager says “let’s revisit this next quarter,” you have it in writing. No more “I don’t remember that conversation” six months later.
The one exception? If your company culture is strongly in-person, lead with a brief conversation and follow up with an email that documents everything you discussed. Either way, you’ll need a written version. These templates work for both scenarios.
When to Send a Salary Increase Request Email
Timing won’t make a weak case strong. But bad timing can sink a strong one.
Best windows to send your raise request email:
Right after a big win. Closed a major deal? Launched a successful project? Saved the company money? That’s when your value is freshest in everyone’s mind. Don’t wait three months for it to fade.
During review season. Most companies set budgets around annual reviews. Get your request in before those conversations happen, not after the budget is locked.
When you’ve absorbed extra responsibilities. If your role has expanded without a title or pay change, that gap is your strongest card. The longer you wait, the more that expanded role becomes your “normal.”
After 12+ months at your current salary. No raise in over a year? That’s not loyalty. It’s a pay cut when you factor in inflation. A Bureau of Labor Statistics report showed consumer prices rose 2.4% in the 12 months ending September 2024. If your salary didn’t move, you’re earning less in real terms.
When to hold off:
Your company just announced layoffs or budget freezes. Your manager is drowning in an urgent crisis. You started less than six months ago (unless your role changed dramatically). Read the room before you hit send.
How to Write an Email Asking for a Raise (Step by Step)
Every strong raise request follows five moves. Skip one and the whole thing weakens.
1. The Subject Line
Keep it straightforward. Your manager should know what this email is about before they open it. No clickbait, no vague “Quick question” subject lines. We’ll cover specific examples in the next section.
2. The Opening
One to two sentences. Be direct. Don’t bury the purpose under small talk or compliments.
Something like: “I’d like to discuss a compensation adjustment based on my contributions over the past year.” Clear. Professional. No games.
3. Your Evidence
This is the core of your email asking for a raise. List specific achievements with numbers when possible. Revenue generated, costs saved, projects delivered, efficiency improvements, positive client feedback.
Don’t be modest here. If you improved something by 30%, say that. If you brought in $150K in new business, write the number. Concrete results beat vague claims every single time.
4. The Ask
State a specific number or range. “I’m requesting a salary adjustment to $X” works much better than “I’d like to discuss a potential increase.” Vague asks get vague responses.
Research your market rate first. Sites like Glassdoor, PayScale, and LinkedIn Salary Insights give you a data-backed range. Aim for the upper end of reasonable. You can negotiate down. You can’t negotiate up from a lowball.
5. The Close
End with gratitude and a clear next step. “I’d welcome the chance to discuss this further. Could we find time this week?” Give them an easy path forward.
If getting the professional tone right feels like walking a tightrope, writemail.ai’s tone analyzer can help you fine-tune the wording before you hit send. It flags phrasing that might come across as too aggressive or too passive, so you don’t have to guess.
Best Subject Lines for a Raise Request Email
Your subject line determines whether your email gets opened promptly or filed under “later.” And sometimes “later” means never.
Proven options:
- Discussion About My Compensation
- Request for Salary Review
- Compensation Discussion: [Your Name]
- Salary Adjustment Request Based on Performance
- Following Up on Compensation for [Year]
Avoid anything too casual (“Can we talk about $$$?”) or too vague (“Quick chat request”). Your manager juggles dozens of emails daily. Make yours easy to prioritize.
Before the Templates That Work – Here’s What Doesn’t
Here are 4 bad templates that show the most common mistakes – each one illustrating a different way people sabotage their own raise request. These pair well with your article’s “Mistakes That Sink Raise Emails” section.
Bad Template 1: The Vague Apologizer
Subject: Quick question
What’s wrong:
- Vague subject line (“Quick question” – about what?)
- No specific achievements or evidence
- No actual number requested
- Apologetic tone undermines the entire ask
- “No rush” and “just throwing it out there” gives your manager permission to ignore it
- “I feel like I’ve been doing really good work” – feelings aren’t evidence
Bad Template 2: The Ultimatum
Subject: Need to talk about my salary ASAP
What’s wrong:
- Aggressive, confrontational tone from the first line
- Comparing yourself to a coworker by name – guaranteed to backfire
- Threatening to leave puts your manager on the defensive
- “ASAP” and “by end of week” – ultimatums don’t create goodwill
- No mention of YOUR contributions, only complaints
- Even if you have competing offers, weaponizing them burns bridges
Bad Template 3: The Sob Story
Subject: Salary discussion – personal matter
What’s wrong:
- Personal financial problems are not a business case for a raise
- Your employer pays for your VALUE, not your expenses
- Makes the conversation about pity rather than merit
- No mention of performance, achievements, or market data
- “I hate to bring this up” and “I know this is uncomfortable” – frames the ask as a burden
- Positions you as desperate, which weakens your negotiating power
Bad Template 4: The Novel
Subject: Thoughts on my role, growth, compensation, and future direction
6 Pay Raise Email Templates You Can Copy and Paste
Each template below is ready to customize. Replace everything in [brackets] with your details, and adjust the tone to match your relationship with your manager.
Template 1: Performance-Based Raise Request
Subject: Discussion About My Compensation
Template 2: Raise After Taking on More Responsibilities
Subject: Compensation Discussion: Expanded Role
Template 3: Market Rate Adjustment
Subject: Request for Salary Review
Template 4: Raise After a Major Project Win
Subject: Following Up on [Project Name], Compensation Discussion
Template 5: Annual Review Cycle Request
Subject: Compensation Discussion for [Year] Review
Template 6: Follow-Up After a Verbal Raise Discussion
Subject: Following Up on Our Compensation Conversation
Want to personalize these templates for your exact situation? Writemail.ai generates tailored raise request emails based on your role, achievements, and desired tone. Paste your notes, pick a confident-but-respectful style, and get a polished draft in seconds.
What to Do After You Send Your Raise Request Email
You hit send. Your heart is pounding. Now what?
Give them time. Don’t expect a same-day answer. Salary decisions often involve HR, budgets, and approval chains your manager can’t shortcut. A reasonable window is 3-5 business days before you follow up.
Prepare for three responses:
“Yes, let’s make it happen.” Great. Get the new number in writing. Ask when it takes effect. Send a thank-you email confirming the details so nothing gets lost.
“Not right now, but let’s revisit.” Don’t just accept a vague “maybe later.” Ask for specifics. When exactly? What milestones would strengthen the case? Get those details documented so you can hold them accountable.
“We can’t do that.” Don’t panic. Ask what would need to change for next time. Sometimes the budget is genuinely tight. Other times, there’s room for non-salary compensation like extra PTO, a flexible schedule, a professional development budget, or a title change.
If they ghost your email: Follow up after one week. Keep it simple:
“Hi [Name], I wanted to follow up on my compensation request from [date]. Would it be possible to set up a time to discuss?” If you need help drafting that follow-up without sounding pushy, writemail.ai can help you get the tone right.
Pros and Cons of Using Writemail.ai for Your Raise Email
- Gets you past the blank page
- Nail the right tone
- 87% faster writing
- Multiple versions on demand
- Works directly in Gmail
- 40+ languages supported
- Customizable style and length
- None. Writemail.ai handles the hardest part of asking for a raise – getting the words right – so you can focus on building your case and choosing the right moment to send.
FAQ: Your Raise Request Email Questions Answered
Is it OK to ask for a raise via email?
Absolutely. Email is a professional, documented way to start the conversation. It gives both you and your manager time to prepare. Many HR professionals actually prefer having a written request on file because it makes the approval process smoother.
Should I ask for a raise in person or via email?
Both work, and a hybrid approach is often best. Email is stronger when you want to make a detailed, evidence-based case without the pressure of a live conversation. In-person works better when you have a close relationship with your manager and want to read their reactions. The winning move? Send the email first, then follow up in person.
How much of a raise should I ask for?
Research from PayScale’s Salary Negotiation Guide suggests most successful raises fall in the 5-15% range. Under 5% barely keeps pace with inflation. Over 20% usually requires a significant role change or competing offer to justify. Anchor your ask in market data, not hope.
How do you ask for a raise after one year?
One year is a perfectly reasonable timeline. Focus your email on what you’ve accomplished since starting, how you’ve gone beyond expectations, and where market rates sit for your role today. Template 1 or Template 5 above both work well. Adjust the [time period] to highlight your first-year milestones.
What if my raise request gets denied?
A “no” right now isn’t a “no” forever. Ask for specific feedback on what would change the answer. Request a concrete timeline for revisiting the conversation. Document everything. And in the meantime, keep building your case with measurable results you can reference next time.
Conclusion
Asking for more money will always feel a little uncomfortable. That’s normal. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it.
The people who earn what they’re worth aren’t necessarily better at their jobs than you are. They’re just better at asking. And now you have the words to do it.
Pick the template that fits your situation, customize it with your real achievements, and send the email. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Today.
If you want help getting the phrasing just right, writemail.ai takes the stress out of high-stakes emails, so you can focus on making your case instead of agonizing over every word.
