Know your worth: how to find out what you should be earning 

Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash 

What should I be earning?

There is almost nothing more taboo, nothing more shrouded in mystery, than salaries and finding a real answer to the question: “What should I be earning?”. What people get paid is such a touchy and secretive subject, that it’s little wonder many job seekers don’t know what they should be asking for.  

It doesn’t help when so many companies refuse to advertise the salary range on their job adverts, leading many to apply for roles which ultimately don’t reward as fairly as they should (we encourage our clients to state salary ranges on all of their roles for this very reason). This age-old reluctance to talk openly about pay can also cause confusion over how much a job seeker should command. Are you accepting too little and downplaying your skills? Are you being unreasonable and asking for too much? Thankfully, there are several tools to help you discover roughly what you could be earning. Here’s how to know your worth:   

Understand which factors have an effect on pay levels 

Before doing anything else, it’s a good idea to understand what impacts pay. Those with years of experience and bucket-loads of qualifications would understandably be ‘worth’ more to an employer. Location, too, plays a big part, with the big money usually found in big cities (though with remote working, you might not have to trudge to London every day if you don’t want to). Achievements can boost your earning potential, as they can illustrate your skills and knowledge, especially if you can demonstrate in numbers where you made an impact (sales, savings, leads, etc).  

Try a salary checker 

An online search will present you with dozens of these tools, which average salaries per job title and location, such as Glassdoor, Payscale and Salary Expert. Bear in mind that the results can be quite general, but you can create an account for more personalised reports. Glassdoor lists salaries per employer, so you can see for yourself who pays in line with market rates and who doesn’t. Some offer a salary trajectory too, so you can get an idea of where your pay might go as you progress.  

Ask your recruitment consultant

As an expert who fills numerous vacancies in your specialism every day, your recruitment consultant is the perfect person with whom to have an open and honest conversation about salary expectations. With up-to-date, broad market knowledge, a consultant will frequently advise an employer on salary levels, knowing what will attract quality candidates, so use this fantastic fountain of financial knowledge to your advantage. Don’t feel awkward or shy, either, knowing what your skills, experience and knowledge are worth can help both you and your consultant identify the right jobs.  

Photo by Christopher Bill on Unsplash 

Scan other job adverts 

Though potentially time-consuming, another way to determine what you should be paid is to see what other companies are prepared to pay (providing the salary is listed, of course). Search for a specific job title and location, and note the results. This should eventually present you with a salary range – the top end perhaps for particular skills, the lower for less experience – from which you can gain an understanding of what you could ask for. This might also widen your job search criteria – perhaps working further afield or in a different sector might benefit your pocket more than you expected. 

Ask around 

While it might appear totally shocking, a really useful way to understand salary levels is to simply ask people. Utilise your LinkedIn network to ask those working in your profession what they earn/earned in your role. As we know, people don’t like to talk about their salary openly, so inviting a private message response may encourage more replies. You don’t have to ask about their exact salary, you can start with “What should I be earning”. You might be surprised by the response you receive. 

Determine what’s important to you 

Of course, compensation doesn’t necessarily mean salary exclusively; many companies offer a variety of other benefits which might be of more importance than what’s on your payslip, so it’s worth thinking about what matters to you. Would you be happier to work for an employer that pays less but whose values align with your own? That gives access to qualifications and training? Who is fully flexible? That has fantastic employee engagement? Your worth doesn’t have to relate solely to pay, so consider this when doing your calculations. 

Doing some research around your salary before job hunting is definitely a good idea. Not only does it help you find roles at the right level, but it shows employers that you are a credible candidate. Looking for too little hints at naivety, while asking for too much could knock you out of the running altogether.  

As mentioned above, if you’d like to have a conversation with an expert about pay and benefits, get in touch with one of our team. We can talk through your skills, accomplishments and experience to provide you with a decent idea of what you’re worth.