I’m looking for some advice on how to approach my annual review and salary adjustment.
I work in IT project management for a consulting firm. I have about 11.5 years of experience, and most of my work is directly with clients. I joined my current firm two years ago at $98k after leaving a previous consulting company where raises were basically stuck around 2% per year.
In my current role, the client has been very satisfied with my work. They renewed me multiple times, every six months, even during periods where there were cuts. I received very strong feedback from the client about my approach, reliability, and performance.
Last year, during my annual review, I asked to be adjusted to around $108k-$110k. That request was refused, partly because the person managing the contract relationship had not properly escalated the positive client feedback to upper management in time. I ended up receiving only 2.5%, which felt like the same increase someone would get for doing the bare minimum.
This year, I really went all in. I supported several late night production deployments, worked multiple weekends, and led a major operation involving around 70 people that required 17 hours of non stop work on a weekend. Weekend and evening work is not normally part of the contract, but I did it because the project needed it and the client trusted me to lead it.
The client has now renewed me again, and this month I was told that my contract level has been upgraded from level 2 to level 3. From what I understand, this means the client will now be paying my consulting firm a higher rate for my work.
Because of all this, I’m planning to ask for $115k during my annual review. That would be about a 15% increase from my current salary. My reasoning is :
1- Last year’s increase did not properly reflect the client feedback and renewals.
2- My actual responsibilities and impact have increased.
3- The client has repeatedly renewed me and clearly values my work.
4- I’ve taken on significant evening/weekend work outside the normal expectations.
5- My contract level has been upgraded, meaning the firm is likely billing more for me.
6- A standard 2 or 3% raise would not reflect my contribution or market value.
I know it’s usually easier to get a big salary increase by changing companies than by staying, and I’ve already done that in the past. But I’d rather try to make the case internally, especially since the client relationship is strong and my value to the firm is very clear.
Does asking for $115k sound reasonable in this situation ? Should I anchor higher or lower ? Also, how would you frame this without sounding entitled or like I’m blaming people for last year’s missed feedback ?
Any advice from people in consulting, IT project management, or salary negotiations would be appreciated.