How to Work Out What You’re Worth

What should you actually be earning?

Salary websites give you averages. Job adverts can have enormous ranges. Two people with exactly the same job title can have completely different responsibilities.

So discovering that “the average salary for my job is £50,000” doesn’t necessarily tell you very much.

This guide helps you build a much more realistic picture of what your particular experience is worth in the market.

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Your job title isn’t your market value

Sector, location, company size, scope, specialist knowledge, seniority, supply and demand and the level of responsibility involved can all affect what an employer is prepared to pay.

That’s why salary research needs to go further than one Google search.


What you’ll learn

By the end of the guide, you’ll know how to:

  • Find genuinely comparable roles rather than relying on broad averages.
  • Research salary ranges from multiple sources.
  • Account for differences in scope and responsibility.
  • Understand how market demand affects your value.
  • Separate what you’re currently paid from what you’re worth elsewhere.
  • Build a realistic market-value range.
  • Use your research in salary and job-offer conversations.


Build evidence, not a fantasy number

The aim isn’t to tell yourself you’re “worth £80k”.

It’s to establish whether employers are actually paying £80k for people with your combination of skills, experience and responsibilities.

The guide gives you a practical framework for doing that research and interpreting what you find, so your next salary decision is based on evidence rather than assumptions.


Written by Lee Harding

I’ve spent 20+ years working in recruitment, Talent Acquisition and leadership, including senior and Director-level roles.

I’ve hired people, managed teams and worked closely with hiring managers and senior leaders. I’ve also been involved in the kinds of pay, hiring and workplace decisions employees don’t normally get to see.

My advice is based on understanding what actually happens when these decisions are being made on the other side of the table.


Know your number and where it came from

Go into your next salary conversation with a realistic range and the evidence to explain it.

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This is one of 15 practical guides covering the career problems most of us eventually run into — from pay rises and promotions to difficult managers, career changes, redundancy and starting a new job.

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