From celebration to frustration: 85% salary hike turns into disappointment for techie after he learns about his juniors salary in new job

A professional working as a senior analyst in an IT services firm was taken aback when he learned that two of his subordinates were drawing significantly higher salaries than he was. The revelation left him frustrated, as the juniors had less experience and held lower positions in the organizational hierarchy. He explained that the unusual pay disparity arose because of the companies they previously worked for.

In his case, his previous workplace offered relatively modest pay. When he moved to his current role, the compensation appeared attractive at first, giving him an 85 percent increase compared to his earlier package. However, he later discovered that colleagues with fewer years in the industry and working in junior designations were being paid 30 to 40 percent more. Their higher compensation stemmed from switching jobs from firms that already offered stronger pay packages.

Unequal Workload, Unequal Pay

The analyst noted that despite managing heavier responsibilities, handling more complex work, and shouldering additional stress, his financial recognition was lagging behind. He admitted that comparisons are often unhealthy, but it was disheartening to accept that he contributed more and took greater ownership, yet earned less than those reporting to him.

He also felt uncertain about how to approach the issue with his company’s human resources team. The dilemma was whether raising the matter would result in a positive adjustment or whether it might leave a negative impression about his attitude.

Advice from the Online Community

The incident, shared on the subreddit Indian Workplace, sparked responses from several professionals. One suggested that he directly request a market correction, advising him to prepare by collecting data on industry pay levels, listing his achievements, and making a clear case for why he deserved better compensation. According to this advice, if his manager supported him, the process would be smoother than expected.

Another user recounted personal experience, remarking that companies often prioritize cost-cutting over rewarding skill and effort. They emphasized that hard work alone does not guarantee fair pay and encouraged him to consistently negotiate or consider moving to another employer if his current organization refused to match the market standards.