How to ask for a raise: the email asking for the meeting

• Ask for a time to talk, name two or three things you have done, and say when you are free. That is the whole email.
• Use facts you can show (what you did, when, the result). If you do not have a number, leave the number out. Do not invent one.
• Check your contract or staff handbook for how and when pay is reviewed, and ask HR if it is not clear.

Subject: Meeting to talk about my pay

Hi [manager's name],

I'd like to arrange a short meeting to talk about my pay. Over the last [period, for example 12 months] I have [thing 1, with a date or result if you have one], [thing 2] and [thing 3]. I'd like to talk about whether my pay can be reviewed in light of that.

Would [day and time] or [day and time] suit you? I expect it to take about [15 to 30] minutes. I can send you a one-page summary beforehand if that would help.

Thank you,
[Your name]

Brackets are for your own facts. Delete anything that is not true for you.

USPay raises are generally a matter of agreement between an employer and employee (or the employee's representative). Pay raises to amounts above the Federal minimum wage are not required by the FLSA.US Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, Fair Labor Standards Act questions and answers (US). Open the page. Read 4 October 2026.

UK readers: we found no official page to quote on pay rises, so we say only this: your contract and staff handbook are where pay review dates and rules are written down. Ask HR if they are not there.

What this means: a raise is something you ask for and agree, not something you can demand. The email makes your ask clear and puts it on record. It cannot promise a result.

Our suggestions, not official rules: pick a calm moment, ask for 15 to 30 minutes, bring two or three examples on one page, and decide in advance what you will say if the answer is "not now" (for example, ask what would need to change and when you can talk again).

The $9 kit "Ask for a raise" gives you the one-page case to fill in, this email, what to say in the meeting, and the follow-up messages for a yes, a no or a "not now".

Do I have to be given a raise?

In the US, the Department of Labor says pay raises above the federal minimum wage are generally a matter of agreement between employer and employee, and the federal law does not require them. Your contract may say more. We have no official UK source to quote.

Should I ask by email or in person?

Our suggestion: send a short email asking for a meeting (the one above), then have the conversation in person or on a call. That way the request is on record and the talk has your full attention.

How much should I ask for?

We cannot give you a figure and will not invent one. Look at advertised pay for the same job near you, and think about what your work has added. Say a number only if you can explain it.

What if they say no or "not now"?

You can ask what would need to change and when you can talk again, then write that down in a short follow-up email. That is our suggestion, not an official rule.

Is it a bad time if the company is struggling?

Only you can judge. You can still ask for the meeting. A short, polite email is easy to agree to or to answer with a later date.

• US Department of Labor: Questions and Answers About the Fair Labor Standards Act, read 4 October 2026

Not legal advice. This is general information. Rules depend on your contract, your country and, in the US, your state. For advice on your own case, ask the free Acas helpline (UK) or a qualified adviser. Page written and checked on 4 October 2026; official pages can change.

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