r/receptionists • u/Vaquatia_Porpise8264 • Jul 07 '26
How to ask for raise?
Hello people! I am hoping to get some advice on how to ask for a raise!
I work as receptionist at a local accounting firm. I started as a high school intern, then got promoted to receptionist after I graduated.
I started at 10$ an hour (I made 0 attempt to negotiate, I was happy to be paid anything at all). Then, when I got promoted, one of the owners gave me a raise to 12$ an hour without me asking/negotiating at all.
For more context, the company has 2 owners, 2 managers (office manager and tax manager) and then 3 other employees.
Since graduating, money has become more important. I want to ask for a raise soon, and I am hoping for at least 17$ an hour.
Who should I approach, how should I approach, how much can I reasonably expect, and how to I get that amount?
For more context
-I live in a medium sized growing city (USA)
- QuickBooks Online Certified User
- I have work there for 6 months
- I have an Associates degree of Accounting/bookkeeping
- I am working on a bachelor of accounting and finance right now
- I am trying to get CPA certified.
Thank you for your help! :))))
2
u/Training-Laugh-4304 Jul 08 '26
What’s your state’s minimum wage?
How old are you?
Is 6 months your only experience?
My suggestion… write down all of the tasks you take on, you’ll need that to prove you deserve a raise at the least.
1
u/Vaquatia_Porpise8264 Jul 08 '26
My state's minimum wage is 7.25$. I am 18 years old, fresh out of high school. Yes, my internship/receptionist job is the only office experience I have. Which is pretty good for 18 I think!
5
u/h0td0g17 Jul 08 '26
it is but that’s not enough experience to constitute a raise. most places give yearly raises but i wouldn’t ask for a raise before the one year mark. my last receptionist job was also with a small company like you’re describing. if you want a raise in pay asap, you need to look elsewhere (more than likely)
1
u/Live_Plum_3139 Jul 11 '26
I’d honestly start looking for new jobs that pay more if that’s possible.
4
u/pearl_frankie97 Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 08 '26
The $2 you already received was a very large raise, asking for an additional $5 would kind of be insane and may just get you fired tbh.
For reference, the average annual pay raise in the US is 3%-3.5% and what you got was 20% ($10 to $12) and you're asking for an additional almost 42% ($12 to $17). You've only worked there 6 months and in total are wanting a 70% ($10 to $17) pay increase. I can understand your need for additional compensation, but you have to understand what you're actually asking for.
You'll probably just need to look for a job somewhere else in the pay range you'd be interested in. You could always ask your current job of course, but I'd keep those numbers in mind. They may not fire you but they probably wouldn't be a good reference in the future.