Here's the math.
People who stayed in their jobs: 3.6% yearly wage growth
People who switched jobs: 4.4% yearly wage growth
People who actually plan their career growth: potentially more than the normal yearly raise
The first two numbers come from the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta's Wage Growth Tracker.
But the third one is something worth pondering.
What happens when you stop thinking only about your next increment and start thinking about your next career move?
Most of us start working with roughly the same routine.
Work hard. Get a good rating. Wait for increment. Repeat next year.
Nothing wrong with that.
But there's one problem.
Your company controls the increment. You control your market value.
A New Job Isn't Always Career Growth
Changing companies and getting 15% more sounds great.
And financially, it probably is.
But if you're doing exactly the same job, with the same responsibilities and learning nothing new, you got a salary upgrade.
Not necessarily a career upgrade.
The better move is the one that gives you something bigger.
Bigger responsibility. Bigger problems. Better exposure. Leadership experience. A new skill. Access to people and decisions you couldn't reach before.
That's the stuff that compounds.
Sometimes Staying Is Actually Smarter
This is where social media career advice can get a little too simple.
"Bro, just jump every two years."
Not always.
Imagine you're about to lead a massive project. Your boss is giving you exposure to senior management. You're building a team. You're learning something that could make you much more valuable three years from now.
Leaving for another 10% might actually be the worse deal.
Money matters.
But so does what you're becoming while earning it.
Know When You're Stuck
The opposite is also true.
Same job.
Same problems.
Same responsibility.
Good performance rating every year, but your career hasn't really moved for the last three years.
That's when you need to stop asking:
"How much increment am I getting?"
And start asking:
"What am I still gaining by staying here?"
Your boss can manage your performance review.
Your company can decide your increment.
But neither of them should be managing your entire career.
I explored this in more detail in Your Employer Manages Your Increment. You Manage Your Career..
So yes.
Want a raise? Ask your boss.
Want a bigger raise? Ask someone else's boss.
But if you want something much bigger than either of those...
build a career that gives you choices.
