What's the "normal" salary increase in Calgary?

[lazypucker]

Hi, so I will be having a year-end performance review next week (my company likes to do it before Christmas I suppose). I am new to the company (about 7 months) and I think I got a decent pay package on the get-go (no, not those $300k per year with the teacher wife) so I am not expecting a raise this time, but I am curious to know if companies are giving raises to adjust for inflation, per se?

Also, what are some techniques you guys recommend (or have used) to ask for a raise? Also, what do you consider as a good raise (5%, 10%, 25%, etc.)?

Thanks

[MarchHare]

Also, what do you consider as a good raise (5%, 10%, 25%, etc.)?

Are you continuing to work at the same position? Anywhere from 0-5% seems to be the norm, based on factors like inflation, your individual performance, how well your employer is doing, etc. I can't imagine any salary worker getting a year-over-year raise much higher than that without being promoted to a new role. A raise of 25% is unheard of.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

Are you continuing to work at the same position? Anywhere from 0-5% seems to be the norm, based on factors like inflation, your individual performance, how well your employer is doing, etc. I can't imagine any salary worker getting a year-over-year raise much higher than that without being promoted to a new role. A raise of 25% is unheard of.

Not necessarily.

A lot of people will start out with an entry level salary. The real salary won't kick in until 1-3 years later. I was given a 20-30% raise this year, depending on how much bonus i can collect.

Back to the OP, you're going to have to give more details. What industry? How long have you been workign there? How big is your office? etc..

[FlameOn]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

Are you continuing to work at the same position? Anywhere from 0-5% seems to be the norm, based on factors like inflation, your individual performance, how well your employer is doing, etc. I can't imagine any salary worker getting a year-over-year raise much higher than that without being promoted to a new role. A raise of 25% is unheard of.

0-5% is pretty standard for the same position year to year unless you're talking about extreme performance above and beyond what is asked for or position/title/career level changes or your company is doing extremely well. In my first two years at a company I worked like a dog and managed to get 12% and 18% raises, but I realized the increase wasn't anywhere near worth the amount of time I was putting in.

Also depends on industry.

[MarchHare]

Not necessarily.

A lot of people will start out with an entry level salary. The real salary won't kick in until 1-3 years later. I was given a 20-30% raise this year, depending on how much bonus i can collect.

Interesting. I've never worked at an employer or known anyone who has where that is the norm. I'm not sure I like that model. Most career advancement-minded people tend to stay 2-3 years at a position before moving on to something new (either by internal promotion or finding a new employer), so not having the "real" salary kick in until after 1-3 years seems punitive. I'd be pretty unhappy if I was being paid 25% below what my position is really worth just because I was new to the job.

[GP_Matt]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

Interesting. I've never worked at an employer or known anyone who has where that is the norm. I'm not sure I like that model. Most career advancement-minded people tend to stay 2-3 years at a position before moving on to something new (either by internal promotion or finding a new employer), so not having the "real" salary kick in until after 1-3 years seems punitive. I'd be pretty unhappy if I was being paid 25% below what my position is really worth just because I was new to the job.

In my industry the advancement is pretty flat, but I grow within the position. As I increase the volume of work I bring in I become more valuable. For the first few years I don't have very many or very large clients so there is s considerable bump after a few years once you start generating more substantial revenue.

[Flabbibulin]

I think the norm should be at least inflation, but that is not always the case.

Our company is a little different in the way they handle pay raises, but incredibly generous considering. Performance reviews occur every August and virtually everyone gets a pay raise- the increase is completely different though from person to person. I have been there 5 years and my pay increases each year have been 33%-7%-15%-2%-10%. The first increase of 33% was high because i was changing from an intern to a permanent. The 2% was a reaction to the global economy. We dont get enormous bonuses, but we do get a small one at Christmas.

My wife on the other hand gets a pay raise once in a blue moon.

[Sylvanfan]

It's Calgary, you're entitled to a 30% raise every year regardless of company growth or balance sheet. It's totally reasonable, and would never result in a bubble bursting effect with catostrophic consequences for the copmany economically down the road....

A good raise depends on so many factors. If you're doing the same job, and have a lot of experience at it...hope for 4% to somewhat keep up with inflation. Since you started out with a decent compensation package, and you're only at 7 months...if you get 10% you did well.

[mrkajz44]

Since you've only been with the company for 7 months I think anything above 10% is outragous as that would roughly equal 20% if you had worked a full year. Live in the 2-5% zone to avoid huge dissapointment.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

Are you continuing to work at the same position? Anywhere from 0-5% seems to be the norm, based on factors like inflation, your individual performance, how well your employer is doing, etc. I can't imagine any salary worker getting a year-over-year raise much higher than that without being promoted to a new role. A raise of 25% is unheard of.

I had a 50% raise once, but that was because we were very underpaid at the time (start-up company).

Current job has been about 20% over the course of the last 5 years with my current company, but I don't think, but still on the low end, I think salary wise.

[shermanator]

I'm in the same boat as the OP as well, although I've been with my company 16 months, and already had my review, which was quite good, just haven't finalized the compensation part.

I'm hoping for between 10-20% simply because my review was so good. Realistic expectations?

[Northendzone]

i would say for those of you (like me) who are not in oil and gas that being a top notch performer will get you 4 to 6% and the rest of us will have to settle for 1 to 3.5%

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

i would say for those of you (like me) who are not in oil and gas that being a top notch performer will get you 4 to 6% and the rest of us will have to settle for 1 to 3.5%

I was pretty pissed a few years ago when I got "Exceeds Expectations" on my performance review but got a 0% raise (along with everyone else) which the CEO blamed on the economy -- this despite the company still making billions in profits that year according to our annual shareholder report.

But yes, in nine years of working for various organizations in Calgary (none in the O&G industry, mind you), I've received annual raises of between 0-5%. In my performance reviews, I've never done worse than "Meets Expectations". The only times my salary has increased more than 5% year-over-year is when I was promoted internally to a new role or started a new position with a different employer.

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

Originally Posted by lazypucker

Hi, so I will be having a year-end performance review next week (my company likes to do it before Christmas I suppose). I am new to the company (about 7 months) and I think I got a decent pay package on the get-go (no, not those $300k per year with the teacher wife) so I am not expecting a raise this time, but I am curious to know if companies are giving raises to adjust for inflation, per se?

Are you new to your field of work and in a more junior position? I get the impression you are. I would say 0-5% is normal, but 10% wouldn't surprise me. I've seen people get higher percentages the first few years and then settle down in to the sub 5% range after that.

[Sylvanfan]

Yeah, companies don't tend to hand out 25% raises to employees to do the same job in one shot, unless you started at $8 an hour doing a job that everyone else is getting $12 to do. Now if you switch companies, than it's not unheard of for someone to get a 20 to 25% pay increase. I don't think the labour market is that hot in Alberta though right now. That was 2006-07 type of numbers.

[Flabbibulin]

Wow, looks like I may be in for a bit of a surprise if I change companies in the future. I have been with the same company since finishing University and have grown accustomed to significant pay increases. I didnt start underpaid by any means either- quite standard at the time for someone of my experience and education. At the same point, i can say with full confidence that I have saved/earned my company a heck of a lot of money and always thought my increases were well deserved... Now, enough CPing while at work ;-)

[North East Goon]

We all get paid to yap on CP, so forget any raises!

[Kybosh]

Originally Posted by fotze

You may get the 'we hired you at 2012 rates' spiel.

I just got this myself.

[troutman]

Your name is "lazy" and you want a raise?

[WilsonFourTwo]

0-5 is definitely normal range for "everyday" raises.

In my time on the other side of the desk I have learned that you can (almost) always get your people the raises they deserve. In my mind, 5% is "you're doing great and I really appreciate your effort" and it scales down from there. If your boss ever gives you more than that, he probably had to go to bat for you.