Salary Increase Proposal Template [File Word, PDF] – Free Download 2026

How can you get your salary increase request form easily approved by your superiors? Let’s explore this topic through the summary below from 1Office

A salary increase request form is a document created by individuals or employees in businesses and companies to propose and request a salary increase. In reality, employees always want their salary to match the effort they put in, so proposing a salary increase to a superior is understandable.

What is a salary increase request form?

A salary increase request form is a document submitted by an employee to their manager or the HR department to request a review and adjustment of their current salary based on their work performance, length of contribution, and the value they bring to the company.

A salary increase request helps to:

• Express the employee’s wishes in a professional manner.

• Provide a basis for managers to evaluate achievements and work performance.

• Help the company establish a transparent and fair salary review system.

The form is usually presented in a clear template, detailing personal information, outstanding achievements, and the desired salary.

What content should a salary increase request form include?

A standard form typically includes the following sections:

1. Personal information of the requester

• Full name

• Job position

• Department

• Years of service / Start date

• Contact information

2. Purpose of the request

State clearly: “Proposal for salary review” or “Request to adjust current salary”.

3. Outstanding achievements and contributions

– Results exceeding KPIs
– Completed projects, specific roles
– Initiatives and improvements that increased revenue or productivity
– Contributions to company culture and operations

This is the most important section for persuading management.

4. Reasons for requesting a salary increase

– Consistently high work performance
– Increased cost of living in the market
– Current salary does not reflect capabilities
– Desire for long-term commitment

5. Desired salary

State a specific number or salary range, with a reasonable justification.

6. Commitment

– To continue striving and improving productivity
– Commitment to aligning with the company’s direction

7. Signature and date of submission

– Requester
– Head of Department (if required)
– Approval from HR / Board of Directors

Guide on how to fill out a salary increase request form

1. Fill in personal information completely and accurately

Clearly state your full name, department, position, employee ID (if any), and length of service.
Clear information helps HR easily look up your file during the review process.

2. State the purpose of the request concisely

Example:
“I am writing this letter to request that the Board of Directors consider adjusting my salary to be commensurate with my work performance and current scope of responsibilities”.

Avoid being long-winded or emotional.

3. Present work achievements with data

You should use data to be more persuasive:

• Achieved 120% of KPIs for 6 consecutive months

• Automated 3 processes, saving 40 man-hours per month

• Contributed to an additional 500 million/quarter in revenue

• Achieved a 95% customer satisfaction rate

The more specific the information, the higher the chance of approval.

4. Provide a reasonable explanation for the salary increase request

You can mention:

• Taking on additional tasks or projects

• Current salary is below the market average

• Desire for long-term growth within the company

Avoid giving personal reasons like “I want a raise to pay off debt.”

5. State your desired salary

There are two ways:

• Propose a specific number (e.g., an increase from 12,000,000 to 15,000,000)

• Propose a percentage increase (10–20%)

You should only propose a reasonable increase based on the market rate and your performance.

6. Write a thank you and commitment

End the request with a professional attitude:

• Thank the management for their consideration

• Commit to putting in more effort in the future

7. Sign and send to your manager or HR

Ensure the request follows the correct format, is clearly presented, and has no spelling errors.
You should send a PDF file along with a Word file for easy editing and storage.

Important notes when writing a salary increase request form

1. Tips to increase the chances of your salary increase request being approved

To convince your manager or the Board of Directors that you deserve a raise, use polite, tactful, and concise language. You should include specific evidence from your work process and the results you have achieved in the request to make your arguments more persuasive.

• Evaluate your work performance: Before writing the request, the first thing you need to do is evaluate your job performance over the past period. If you feel that your results have consistently and excellently exceeded KPIs for a long time, and your current salary does not match your workload and quality of work, then writing a salary increase request is something to consider.
• Research and choose an appropriate time: You should learn about the company’s financial health and the salary increase policies of the company in general and your department in particular. Try to research the average market salary for your position to determine a reasonable salary increase for yourself.
• Be concise and complete: Your boss won’t have time to read a lengthy request. Present the issue directly, clearly state the reasons and your achievements to prove that a salary increase at this time is fully deserved. Conciseness and completeness are two key factors to remember when writing a persuasive salary increase request. For example: If your probationary salary was low and not as expected, but you have demonstrated strong capabilities during your employment, you can present this as a reasonable, concise reason. When your boss/supervisor sees the capabilities you have shown, they will consider a reasonable salary.

2. Things to Avoid When Writing a Salary Increase Proposal

• Requesting an unreasonable salary increase: You should research the common salary range in the market and consider your current work quality and workload to propose the most reasonable amount. The proposed salary should not exceed 25% of your current salary.
• Always claiming to be the best: Over-praising yourself is something to avoid when writing a salary increase proposal. You should not include reasons like “I have excellent professional skills, so many other companies are trying to recruit me” in your proposal.
• Comparing your salary with colleagues’: This is also considered a taboo in a salary increase request form. No manager likes their employees to pry into and be envious of their colleagues’ salaries.
• Complaining or whining: If you don’t have convincing achievements to back up your contributions, it’s best not to complain or whine to your boss just to express your desire for a raise.

Download Free Salary Increase Proposal Template (Word, PDF)

Please refer to the standard salary increase proposal template HERE

See more articles:
What is gross salary? Is it more beneficial for employees to receive gross or net salary?