How to find out if youre underpaid

How to find out if youre underpaidHow to find out if youre underpaidWhile the frustrating, seemingly intractable gender wage gap hasmany underlying causes,the fact remains that you can do all you can to take your earning power into your own hands andnegotiate. Yes Im asking you to AskForMoreThat said, many of us wont even begin that process because wereunwittinglybeing paid less than our male counterparts. Salary secrecy, boosted by the taboo nature of discussing money, is alive and well in the average workplace. Despite the fact thatits often unlawful, many employers forbid employees outright from talking about compensation.So how do you know if youre being chronically underpaid? Use these sleuthing strategies to get started.Hit the webIn my opinion, this isnt always the most fruitful option, but its certainly the easiest way to get you going get Googling Hit up sites like Glassdoor, Salary.com, PayScale, Indeed, Monster, and do some serious digging. Explore punkts within the compa ny youre working in (when that data is available) and comparable ones in other organizations in your market both in terms of geography and industry.Think your job title or specific role is hard to compare to any others out there? Do your best to consider what skills and experiences your day-to-day has in common with aelendher position out there, even if the title isnt a perfect match.Dig deepWork for a non-profit, campaign, university, or government institution? Often those organizations are required to publicly report their expenses including labor expenses. Scour government reporting sites (youll often find these documents through the Secretary of States office) or perhaps your own organizations annual report for clues into where you might get your hands on that information. If need be, make a friend in the accounting department to see if they can point you in the right direction.Read up on those industry insidersDid you know theres a weekly periodical just pertaining to the PR field? Its called PR week.What trade associations or publications specific to your field are you following?Do the legwork of catching up with those often-overlooked resources, as they can be priceless. Whether its a blog, quaterly magazine, or underground listserv, ask around to find out what folks in the know are reading to stay up to date on the latest developments in your industry. Whatever it is, it might just serve as a key resource in learning more about industry standards when it comes to pay and benefits, too.Cant find what youre looking for? Considering starting it - even if its just a GoogleGroup that gets you going. I guarantee youre not the only one in your industry looking for answers.Network to get in the knowIn my experience, informational interviews are by far the best way to gain real information about salary norms in any given industry. Ask friends to put you in contact with colleagues they know in similar roles in your industry. Go to networking events and be dil igent about making the most of follow-up.But keep in mind asking outright about a new connections salary can be an uncomfortable way to start a one-on-one meeting over coffee or the phone. Instead, start by establishing a rapport and then share your motivation for better understanding if youre being compensated fairly.The best way to get a gut check? Frame your ask in this way Im seeing salary ranges for positions like mine in the high 50s, does that seem right to you? By stating the number first, you take the burden of talking turkey off your new contacts shoulders, and instead give them the simple opportunity to confirm or deny what youre already finding.Be sure to connect with as many men in your industry as women. If were only talking amongst ourselves, were liable to normalize and perpetuate low-ball offers.Connect with trusted colleaguesThe absolute best information you can find often comes from your closest colleagues. Only you can determine who you trust to talk frankly and honestly with about compensation, but remember to also consider what you have to lose. Your peers arent necessarily interested in you getting paid less, after all. Explain your intent behind your ask to give them context. Use the excuse of today being Equal Pay Day, if you likeAnd men be generous with sharing your salary information. By simply being more transparent with the women in your circles, you can do your part to help close the gender pay gap and make sure all of us men and women alike are paid what were worth.Until we have more organizations pursuing transparent pay policies, these strategies may very well be the best ways to get clear on how your wages measure up to your colleagues especially across gender lines.With states like Massachusetts instituting new laws to make it harder for companies to perpetuate the gender wage gap and the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, its becoming even riskier for companies to perpetuate discriminatory pay practices.Have you taken t hese steps and found out you were being paid significantly less than your colleagues? I want to hear from you Share your experience below and tell us what you did or what youre considering doing to make a change.This post was originally published on BossedUp.org.