Guides
Free plain-English walk-throughs of the stuff our tools analyze. Read any of these to understand the basics — or skip straight to the $9.99 analyzer if you just want a verdict on your specific document.
May 13, 2026
Raise request email: templates and what to say in writing in 2026
Raise request email templates for 2026 — what to put in writing before a salary conversation, how to frame a raise request over email, what not to say, and the email formats that actually get a meeting on the calendar.
May 13, 2026
Average merit increase in 2026: what employers actually budget and what to expect
What is the average merit increase in 2026? Data from Mercer, WTW, and Aon on employer budgets by industry, how merit pay differs from cost-of-living raises, and how to use this data in a raise conversation.
May 12, 2026
What is total compensation? (2026 plain-English guide with worked examples)
A complete breakdown of total compensation in 2026 — base, bonus, equity, benefits, retirement match, health insurance value, and the math for comparing offers across companies and roles.
May 12, 2026
How to negotiate a signing bonus in 2026 (script, leverage, and clawback gotchas)
A complete 2026 guide to negotiating signing bonuses — when they're available, typical ranges by role and industry, the script for asking, and the clawback structures to avoid before signing.
May 12, 2026
Counter offer mistakes in 2026: the 8 ways negotiation fails (and how to avoid each)
A complete 2026 guide to the eight most common counter-offer mistakes — anchoring too low, conceding too fast, attacking instead of building, accepting verbal-only offers, and the specific scripts to avoid each.
Apr 22, 2026
Is a 3% Raise Good in 2026? (What the Data Actually Says)
Is a 3% raise good in 2026? We break down what 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, and 10%+ raises actually mean after inflation, with real math and salary examples.
Apr 22, 2026
How to Negotiate a Salary Offer in 2026 (Scripts + Market Data)
73% of employers expect you to negotiate. Here's exactly what to say — with scripts for countering, asking for more equity, and buying time — backed by 2026 market data.
Apr 15, 2026
Am I Underpaid? How to Check Your Salary Against 2026 Market Data
Am I underpaid in 2026? Use real salary data — not Glassdoor — to find out. A step-by-step method to benchmark your pay against market rate for your role, city, and level.
Apr 13, 2026
How to Ask for a Raise in 2026: Script, Timing & Salary Negotiation Playbook
How to ask for a raise in 2026 — a step-by-step raise script with salary negotiation tactics, market rate research, and what to say when your manager pushes back.
Apr 9, 2026
Is my raise actually good? The 3-number test every employee should run
How to evaluate a raise in 30 seconds — inflation-adjusted, market-adjusted, and peer-adjusted — plus sample talking points to adapt for your conversation.
Apr 9, 2026
Average Raise in 2026 — Is Yours Competitive? (Data by Industry & Role)
The average US raise in 2026 is 3.8%, but that hides huge variation. See benchmarks by industry, role, and performance rating — plus what to do if you're below market.