I think my boss basically just told me to ask for a raise. I'm struggling to figure out what I should ask for.
I have been at this company my entire career so far. I have 6 years experience, I only have my EIT for now. I plan on starting studying for the PE this year. Because of my years of experience and not having my PE yet I'm having a hard time finding salary data to know what I should be getting paid. All the salary websites I look at have crazy wide open ranges that tell me nothing.
I know I am underpaid because inflation calculator is telling me I'm making a lot less than what I started at out of college. I'd need a 10-15% raise just to get back to what I started at, but it seems crazy to ask for a 15% raise.
How am I supposed to know what my market value is without interviewing for jobs and getting offers? I live in a town with only a few other civil companies so I don't really want to go through that process and burn any bridges.
Cost of living index of 90 in the US (LCOL)
Started at 70k
Now at 80k
Inflation calculator says 70k I started with is worth 90k now.
Am I crazy to ask for 93k?
I'm getting recruiters reaching out to me for PM positions and $110k+, but I assume it's because they think I have a PE based on my years of experience. I'm not currently a PM but the company is wanting to start getting me some experience with that and business development because they think I have the skills to do so.
Edit: I forgot to mention my billing rate is $165