There is typically a range that the system guides the manager to decide the merit for each employee. The range is based on factors such as your current range in your salary scale as well as your performance rating. The challenge is that despite the recommendations the same flat amount is budgeted and allocated across the board and that is typically 2.5 to 3%. So if you want to give someone 5% and the guidelines allow it, you may have go someone else 1%. You are never budgeted enough to give everyone higher. Also anything outside of the range requires approval. Hope that helps.
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@hz Thanks much for your advice.
@ht You've been in your job for 3 years with no raise? And they aren't telling you why?? You should know the benchmarks for your position and the reason for no raises, that should be discussed with you several times a year. If you really have no idea what you need to do to get a raise, then you absolutely should be setting up a meeting with your manager (or HR) to get answers.
I have been with the company for nine years and in my current role for three. While I am eligible for both annual bonuses and merit-based increases, I haven't received a meaningful salary adjustment during my tenure in this position. Aside from a minor $25 annual benefits adjustment, my compensation has remained stagnant despite my continued contributions. I would like to discuss the specific benchmarks required for me to qualify for the merit increases and bonuses that are standard within the department.
I think this question is regarding the April 2026 merit increase, not the amount you can get if you are offered a new position. There seems to be some confusion here. It looks like this year's merit is somewhere around 2.5% - 3%. My guess is that it's possible to get more than 3% if you are paid less than your peers and they are trying to get you caught up, but this obviously means your coworkers will get less.
@bq I got 15% last time. Less than that might be the person’s pay is already in the high end?
How much do you get when promoted one level up? I saw one person only get 7%. Is that normal?
I got 4% once and my director said he never saw it before. For other times, I got 3.5%.
Yes they can. The most I got was 7 percent and it required signatures/authorization three levels up. Exceedingly rare but possible. This happened once in 25 years there. Most years it was 3-4 percent.