I stayed for 8 years and got a $2,600 raise.
A colleague who quit got $15,000 more
Do I have to leave to get paid? For some employees, regular raises are one big perk of working in corporate America. In fact, the average base pay increase in the U.S. in 2027 is expected to be around 3.5%, which is just a bit higher than the actual 3.4% average pay increase employees received in 2026.
While salary bumps help workers maintain their buying power as prices increase naturally over time, the vast majority of raises are more than mere cost-of-living adjustments, with 89% of pay increases offered due to merit. Must Read Unfortunately, far too many workers aren’t aggressive about negotiating their salary, as 57% of employees admit they’ve never asked for a pay increase. This can leave workers falling behind, especially the most loyal ones in high-paying positions.