How to Negotiate an Hourly Rate
Whether you're starting a new job or looking for more money in your current position, hourly rates are rarely set in stone. In fact, Jack Chapman, author of "Negotiating Your Salary: How to Make $1,000 a Minute" suggests that it's easiest to negotiate salary at the hourly rate. Companies may even low-ball your salary when making an offer because they expect you to counter with a higher offer. If you're going to negotiate your hourly rate, you should prepare to convince the company that you are worth the extra money.
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Instructions
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Research average salaries for your position. You'll be in a better position to negotiate if your hourly wage is already below market value. You can do this through online websites, such as Salary.com or through the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. If you have a unique position, you may need to consult with others who perform similar tasks. You don't have to directly ask what another person makes--which can result in offending the person--but you can ask if a certain salary range is good for the work.
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Remind employers of what you bring to the position. If you have special qualifications or experience to help in your work, highlight this. If you've already been working for the company, remind your manager of the things that you've done that have improved the company. The more valuable you are to the company, the more likely they are to agree to your requests.
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Ask for the hourly wage that you want. Sometimes, that's all it takes to get the money that you're after.
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Stand your ground. Be prepared to decline the job offer or look for other work if the employer doesn't agree to the wage increase.
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Tips & Warnings
Consider benefits in addition to your hourly wage. For example, some employers aren't able to give you more money, but they may be able to negotiate more vacation time.
In job interviews, try not to be the first person to state a pay rate. You may ask for less than the company was going to offer. If the interviewer asks you how much you want, deflect the question by saying that you want to learn more about the job responsibilities.
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Resources
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