How Much Are You Worth? Workers say that the most important factor in considering a job opportunity is salary. 89% of the respondents in a recent Job Satisfaction Survey rated salary as being as most important when deciding whether to accept a job offer. In addition, more than 50% of the survey respondents believe they are underpaid.

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So, what to do? How can you tell if the job you've just been offered pays enough or if your current salary compares to the market rate? It's going to take some time and some research to equip yourself with the information you'll need to successfully negotiate the salary or raise you deserve.

So while you're conducting your job search, research salaries for the career field and the geographic area you're interested in. It's important to be prepared when a prospective employer asks you your salary expectations or makes you an offer. Even if you are contentedly employed, it makes sense to know what you should (or could) be earning.

Start by reviewing salary survey information. Focused salary survey information delineated by industry and job function is available online. Contact recruitment agents who specialise in your sector which will be able to give a good ball park figure on the sort of salary that you could realistically command. Review several surveys to get an overall perspective of the career field you're interested in. Keep in mind that the cost-of-living varies widely throughout the country. If you earned £20,000 a year in a rural part of the country, for example, you might need to earn £27,000 to live in a City just to break even. It's almost important to know what you need to make in order to pay your bills every month. Calculate your outgoing expenses which will help you determine how much that offer is actual worth and how better financially off you’ll be. Then prepare to negotiate a salary both you, and your employer, will be comfortable with...