how to not give a fuckassess your market value
how much are you worth? not existentially -- financially. in the labor market. right now. if you can't answer that question with a specific number and data to back it up, you're negotiating blindfolded.
the information asymmetry problem
your employer knows exactly what you cost them. they know what they'd pay to replace you. they know the market rate for your role, your experience level, your location. they have all the data.
you, on the other hand, probably accepted whatever number they offered and haven't questioned it since. you might vaguely feel underpaid but have no evidence to confirm or deny it. that information gap is costing you thousands of dollars a year.
how to find out
this takes 10-15 minutes:
- payscale.com: enter your job title, experience, location, and skills. get a detailed salary report showing where you fall in the market range
- glassdoor salary tool: see what people at your company and similar companies are actually being paid
- levels.fyi: particularly useful for tech roles. real compensation data including base, bonus, and equity
- linkedin salary insights: aggregated data from linkedin's massive professional network
- bureau of labor statistics: government data broken down by occupation and geography
cross-reference at least three sources. the overlap is your true market range.
what to do with the data
if you're being paid at or above market rate: good. you're not being exploited. now focus on increasing your value to justify more.
if you're below market rate: you have a decision. either negotiate using your data, or start interviewing elsewhere. nothing reveals your market value faster than an actual offer from another company.
the negotiation mindset
most people never negotiate because they're afraid of seeming greedy or ungrateful. here's the reality: your employer negotiates costs on everything else -- rent, software, supplies. your salary is just another line item. not negotiating isn't noble. it's leaving money on the table.
come to the conversation with data, not feelings. "i feel underpaid" loses. "according to three market sources, the median salary for this role in this market is X, and i'm currently at Y" wins.
do it today
go to payscale.com right now. run the report. see where you stand. if you're underpaid, start building your case. if you're fairly paid, start building your skills to earn more.
knowing your worth isn't arrogant. not knowing it is negligent.
if this resonated, share it with someone who needs to hear it.