What are the salary negotiations for 2025 26?

Salary negotiations for 2025-26 vary widely by sector, but generally show trends towards modest, performance-linked raises (around 3.5% in the U.S. private sector) but significant disputes in public sectors like education, with unions demanding more (e.g., 7.5% in Wilmar, CA) against lower offers (4% for one year), while WNBA talks show large gaps between player and league proposals for future salary caps.

What is the projected salary increase for 2025?

For 2025, expected salary increases in the U.S. averaged around 3.5% to 3.8%, slightly lower than initial projections, with actual increases in 2025 coming in at about 3.2% (merit) and 3.5% (total), reflecting a return to pre-pandemic norms due to economic uncertainty and a cooling labor market, according to reports from Mercer, Payscale, and SHRM. 

What should my pay rise be in 2025?

A good raise in 2025 typically falls around the 3.5% to 4% range, aligning with average employer budgets, but a great raise involves exceeding this with top performance (5.6%) or promotions, while switching jobs often yields the best results (10-20%+), as staying put limits annual increases. Factors like industry (tech/insurance often higher) and individual achievements significantly influence what's considered good. 

How much will salaries increase in 2026?

Effective January 1, 2026, California's minimum wage increases to $16.90 per hour for all employers, regardless of size. Remember: Many cities and counties — including San Francisco, Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Santa Monica, Emeryville, and Oakland — have higher local minimum wage rates.

What salary increase to expect in 2026?

The November 2025 Comparison of Independent Forecasts also points to an expected easing of pay growth, indicating an average independent forecast for wage growth of 4.1% in 2025, falling to 3.2% in 2026.

Salary Negotiation - What Career Coaches WON'T Tell You ( EXACTLY what to say )

Is a 3% raise good in 2025?

Average raise percentages across sectors

Based on recent data, U.S. employers are projecting average pay increases around 3.5% for 2025, and about 85% of employees will get some kind of annual raise. But these numbers change quite a bit depending on your field.

Is a 20% raise for a promotion reasonable?

Yes, a 20% raise for a promotion is generally considered very good to excellent, often representing a significant increase that reflects substantial new responsibilities, a major jump in a salary band, or a desire by the company to retain an exceptional employee, as typical promotion raises are often 10-15%. While context matters (industry, location, your current pay), a 20% bump is strong enough to show you're valued and can make a big difference in your career trajectory. 

What is a good salary in 2026?

This generally means being able to cover all your expenses while still having money for discretionary spending and to save. So a good income will depend on several factors. However, an annual household income of 75,000 to $100,000 is considered “comfortable.”

What is the GS pay rate for 2026?

The minimum rate of basic pay for the senior-level (SL) and scientific and professional (ST) rate range is increased by 1.0 percent, which is the amount of the base GS increase, and is $151,661 in 2026.

What is the cola adjustment for 2026?

For 2026, Social Security beneficiaries are receiving a 2.8% Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA), increasing average payments by about $56 monthly, starting January 2026, though Medicare Part B premiums also rose significantly, reducing the net benefit for many. The COLA is based on inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from the third quarter of 2024 to the third quarter of 2025. 

How much will pay go up in 2025?

A 3.5% increase to the National Minimum Wage and minimum award wages takes effect from 1 July 2025. Our pay tools and resources have now been updated with the new minimum pay rates.

Is a 3% increase a good raise?

A 3% raise is a typical, standard annual increase for many companies, often matching inflation or a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), but whether it's "good" depends on inflation rates, your performance, industry standards, and your career stage; it's fair if inflation is low but less exciting if costs are rising quickly, and higher raises (5-10%+) usually signify exceptional performance or a job change. 

What is good pay in 2025?

A "good wage" in 2025 varies greatly by location, but generally, a single adult needs over $100,000 annually in expensive states like Hawaii, Massachusetts, and California for comfort, while the national median is around $63,000-$70,000, and top earners exceed $167,000, with many jobs paying in the $116k to $175k range for mid-level roles, showing significant disparity.
 

What salary increase should I expect in 2025?

A good raise in 2025 typically falls around the 3.5% to 4% range, aligning with average employer budgets, but a great raise involves exceeding this with top performance (5.6%) or promotions, while switching jobs often yields the best results (10-20%+), as staying put limits annual increases. Factors like industry (tech/insurance often higher) and individual achievements significantly influence what's considered good. 

Is a 2% raise a good raise?

A 2% raise is generally considered below average or poor, as it often doesn't keep pace with inflation, effectively meaning a pay cut in purchasing power, with typical raises being 3-5% just to match living costs and 4-7% or more for good performance. While it might be standard in very tight company budgets, it's often seen as a sign to look for better opportunities, as bigger jumps (6-10%+) usually come from changing jobs or significant promotions. 

What is the minimum salary increase for 2025?

The new Minimum Wage shall be R 10, 616.35, with effect from 1 July 2025. 1 Page 2 Employees and Employers should note that the Minimum Wage, as per clause 7.2 of the Collective Agreement, has already increased by 1.5% to R 10 109.85, with effect from 1 March 2025.

Is GS pay going up in 2025?

Yes, the GS pay scale increased in 2025 by an average of 2%, consisting of a 1.7% base pay raise and a 0.3% locality pay adjustment, taking effect in January 2025, though Congress could have enacted changes, and specific locality impacts varied, according to late 2024/early 2025 official announcements from the Biden administration and the GSA. 

Who still pays $7.25 an hour?

Employers in states that haven't set their own higher minimum wage, or have set it at the federal level, still pay $7.25/hour, including states like Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, though few workers actually earn this due to local laws or employer choice, as many states have higher rates and local ordinances often mandate more, notes OnPay. 

Will there be a pay raise for federal employees in 2026?

The 2026 pay raise for general schedule (GS) employees will take effect during the first full pay period of 2026, which is January 11-24 for most employees. Before Christmas, President Trump signed an executive order implementing a one percent raise for most civilian employees, the smallest increase since 2021.

Is $100,000 a good salary in 2025?

If You Earn $100K a Year, Here's Where You Actually Rank Among All Americans. Six figures used to mean you'd made it. But in 2025, earning $100,000 puts you in a weird middle zone where you're doing better than most Americans but still nowhere near rich.

What will be the highest paying job in 2026?

The highest paying jobs in 2026 are dominated by < Healthcare Specialists (like Surgeons, Anesthesiologists, Psychiatrists) and high-level Technology Roles (AI Engineers, Data Scientists, Cybersecurity Directors), along with top business executives (CEOs) and finance professionals (Investment Bankers). Demand is strong in AI, cybersecurity, and healthcare, with specialized roles requiring advanced skills and high responsibility commanding the highest salaries. 

What percentage of people make $70,000 a year?

What Percentage of Americans Make Over $70,000 Annually? U.S. Census data reports that in 2022 (the most recent data available), 49.8% of Americans made $75,000 and more, and 16.2% earned between $50,000 and $75,000. Based on these statistics, at least half of Americans make $70,000.

Is a 4.5% raise good?

Yes, a 4.5% raise is generally considered good, as it's above the typical 3-4% merit increase and aligns with or exceeds recent average raises and cost-of-living adjustments, making it a solid performance-based gain, though exceptional circumstances (like a promotion with new responsibilities) might warrant higher percentages. 

What is a dry promotion?

Also known as “quiet promotions,” dry promotions are role advancements that don't come with a pay increase. In most cases, these promotions come with a new title and responsibilities. But unlike traditional promotions, the compensation stays the same.

What is the average raise percentage in 2025?

Meanwhile, employers delivered an average total increase of 3.5%, which accounts for all salary increases, including merit, promotional, cost-of-living, and other adjustments, in 2025. That's also lower than their fall projections, when U.S. employers said they expected to deliver an average 3.6% pay bump.