The short version: ChatGPT can help you build your case, draft the actual ask, and prepare for pushback when you negotiate a pay rise, as long as you feed it your real numbers and situation rather than asking it to guess. The prompts below cover preparation, the conversation itself, and the follow up afterwards.
Building your case before you ask
Use this first, before you say anything to your manager. It turns a vague sense that you deserve more into a list you can use.
I want to ask for a pay rise. Here is what I have done in the last [12 months / relevant period]: [list your achievements, projects, and any numbers you have]. Turn this into five short bullet points that focus on outcomes and value delivered, not just tasks completed, written in a confident but not boastful tone.
Use this if you are struggling to remember everything you have done, working from old notes or emails.
Here are rough notes and emails about my work over the last [time period]: [paste notes, project names, or a loose list]. Pull out anything that shows increased responsibility, cost savings, revenue impact, or problems solved, and organise it into a short timeline I can refer back to.
Use this to work out a realistic number before you go in, based on your actual situation rather than a guess.
I currently earn [current salary] as a [job title] with [years] years of experience, based in [location]. I am asking for a pay rise because [your main reason, e.g. my role has grown to include managing two people]. What is a reasonable range to ask for, and how should I justify the top of that range?
Researching what the market pays
Use this to sanity check your number against similar roles before you name a figure.
I am a [job title] in [industry] based in [location or country], with [years] years of experience. Based on general knowledge of typical salary ranges for this role and level, what factors would move someone toward the top or bottom of the range, such as company size, sector, or specific skills? I understand you cannot give live data, I want the reasoning, not a single number.
Use this if your role is unusual or a mix of two job titles, which makes typical salary guides hard to use.
My role does not fit neatly into one job title. I do a mix of [responsibility one] and [responsibility two], which is closer to [job title A] and [job title B]. Help me think through which of those two titles my pay should be benchmarked against, and why, based on where most of my actual time and value goes.
Writing the actual ask
Use this to draft the message or opening lines for the conversation itself, whether written or spoken.
Write an opening for a conversation with my manager asking for a pay rise. My current title is [job title], my current salary is [current salary], and I am asking for [target salary or percentage]. My main reason is [one or two sentence reason]. Keep it under 100 words, direct, and confident, without over apologising or hedging with phrases like "if possible" or "I was wondering if maybe".
Use this if you would rather send a written request first and have the conversation follow, such as by email or a message ahead of a one to one.
Write a short email to my manager, [manager's name], requesting a one to one to discuss my salary. Do not name a specific figure in the email itself, just flag clearly that I want to discuss compensation, reference one recent achievement: [one specific achievement], and suggest we find time in the next two weeks.
Use this if company policy or a recent restructure means you need to make the case for a promotion alongside the pay rise, not just more money for the same role.
I want to ask for a promotion to [target job title] along with a pay rise, moving from [current salary] to [target salary]. Here is evidence I am already doing parts of that role: [list examples]. Write three sentences that connect my current work directly to the responsibilities of the target role, to use in the conversation.
Handling pushback in the room
Use this to prepare for the most likely objection before it happens, rather than freezing when you hear it.
My manager might respond to my pay rise request with "there is no budget right now". Give me two calm responses I could use, one that asks about timing for a future review, and one that asks about non salary alternatives such as a bonus, extra leave, or a title change, without sounding like I am settling for less.
Use this if you expect to be compared to colleagues or told your request is out of line with the team.
My manager might say my request is higher than what others on the team earn. Help me prepare a response that focuses on my own scope and results rather than comparing myself to colleagues, since I do not have visibility of their pay or their full workload.
Use this if you are nervous the conversation will get emotional or you will lose your train of thought.
Turn these three points into a short script I can glance at during the conversation: [point one], [point two], [point three]. Keep each point to one line, written the way I would say it out loud, not written like a memo.
Preparing for a group or panel conversation
Use this if your pay rise conversation will involve more than one person, such as your manager plus HR, rather than a single one to one.
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My pay rise conversation will include my manager and someone from HR, not just a one to one. Help me think through how to adjust my approach for a panel setting, including how to open the conversation, and one sentence I could use if HR asks about process rather than performance.
Use this if you have been offered a bonus or a one off payment instead of an ongoing salary increase and want to think it through before accepting.
My manager has offered a one off bonus of [amount] instead of an ongoing pay rise to [target salary]. Help me weigh up the difference between the two for my situation, thinking about pension contributions, future pay reviews, and whether accepting the bonus now could make it harder to ask again later.
Following up afterwards
Use this straight after the conversation, whatever the outcome, to get it in writing while it is fresh.
Write a short follow up email to my manager after our conversation about a pay rise. The outcome was: [what was agreed, or "still under review", or "declined for now"]. Confirm in writing what was discussed and any next steps or dates mentioned, in a friendly, professional tone with no pressure in it.
Use this if you were told to wait and revisit the conversation at a set point in future, so you do not lose track of it.
My manager agreed to revisit my pay rise request in [timeframe, e.g. three months, at my next review]. Write a short note I can save for myself now, summarising what was discussed, what I need to show progress on before then, and a reminder of the date to raise it again.
Use this if the answer was no and you want to work out your next move without damaging the relationship.
My request for a pay rise was declined. My manager said [reason given, or "no clear reason given"]. Help me think through three possible next steps, ranging from staying and revisiting it later to starting to look elsewhere, based on how strong my case was.
I have written more around this on the site: What ChatGPT Prompts Work Best for Planning Travel?, How to Research an AI Consultant Based in Sydney (Without Getting Burned by a Reseller), How Do You Negotiate a Higher Salary During a Job Offer?.
Every ChatGPT prompt guide I have written is indexed on the ChatGPT prompts hub.
For the same question on every other platform, see the creator pay rates guide.
I built a free prompt builder for exactly this.
If a client has pushed you too far, here's how to express anger in an email without burning the bridge.
Frequently asked questions
Should I tell ChatGPT my exact salary when using these prompts?
You can, but you do not have to. Round numbers or use a percentage instead if you would rather not share exact figures with any tool. The advice quality barely changes either way.
Can ChatGPT tell me exactly what my job should pay?
Not reliably. It does not have live salary data for your specific company or region, so use it to organise your case and reasoning, then check real numbers on a proper salary site or with people in similar roles.
What is the best day or time to ask?
Avoid asking straight after a bad quarter or during a visibly stressful week for your manager. Ask when you can point to a recent, specific win, and ask for a dedicated conversation rather than raising it at the end of an unrelated meeting.
How do I ask again if I was told no a few months ago?
Use the follow up prompt above, referencing what you were told to improve or wait for, and be specific about what has changed since the last conversation, not just that time has passed.
Is it a bad idea to mention other job offers to get a rise?
Only mention another offer if it is real and you are willing to take it. Using a fake or exaggerated offer as a bargaining chip tends to damage trust badly if it ever comes out, and most managers can tell when it is not genuine.
