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February 10, 2026
To know whether you are being paid fairly, you first need to understand how much value you bring to your company. Take this nine-question test and find out.
Almost everyone, at least once in their career, has had the unsettling realization that they are being paid less than they deserve. Perhaps you felt respected at work. Maybe you enjoyed extra benefits, had a special role, or were even satisfied with your salary. And then, one day, you discovered how much others in your field were earning — and were stunned. That much more? These painful lessons tend to stay with us, teaching us something essential: how to define our value to an employer, and what kind of compensation that value deserves.
When evaluating employees, employers consider a wide range of factors. At the top of the list are the company’s goals and how critical a particular employee is to achieving them. They also assess results, consistency, collaboration, independence, emotional and social intelligence, and the less measurable contributions someone makes. The industry you work in matters too, as does how easy or difficult it would be to replace someone with your skill set, and whether you possess additional knowledge that allows you to cover multiple roles.
The way employees perceive their own position does not always align with how employers see them. So how can you determine your real value? This short test, made up of nine questions, can help. Rate each statement from 1 to 5 — the more you agree, the higher the score.
– Am I consistent in the quality of my work and the results I deliver?
– Do I improve year after year?
– Am I moving forward with purpose, rather than relying on past achievements?
– Do I spend most of my time working alongside top performers?
– Have I recently expanded my job responsibilities on my own initiative?
– Do I set goals for myself beyond those assigned by my supervisor?
– Do I regularly seek feedback from my manager and colleagues?
– Does my performance compare well with that of my peers?
– Do I collaborate effectively and maintain strong professional relationships?
The closer your total score is to the maximum of 45, the greater your real value to the company.
But are you being paid accordingly?
When trying to determine whether your pay reflects your value, a good starting point is understanding the typical salary range for your role. Talk to friends, colleagues, and industry peers. Apply for other positions to see what’s being offered. Use platforms such as Glassdoor internationally or Infostud in Serbia. This will help you understand the median salary in your field and where you stand in comparison.
Of course, this is not the whole picture. Your value also depends on your role, specific responsibilities, and past contributions. Perhaps you created a process that saved the company money, or generated unexpected revenue. You may have taken on responsibilities beyond your job description, or possess skills that your colleagues don’t have. Whatever the case, chances are you’ve contributed value that can be quantified financially — and your salary should reflect those added benefits.
It can also be helpful to speak with a recruiter who understands your local market. Good recruiters are always eager to connect with skilled professionals and can offer valuable insight into your worth on the job market.
If you’ve gone through these steps and believe you’re underpaid, it may be time to ask for a raise. But how much should you ask for — and how should you negotiate? Recruiters say a three-step strategy often works best:
Ask for more than you think you’re worth. This is the foundation of any negotiation. Start with a higher figure to give yourself room to negotiate if the employer counters with a lower offer.
Never accept the first offer. Even if the number sounds good. If you don’t want more money, negotiate benefits instead — additional vacation days, flexible hours, remote work, or better equipment.
If asked to state your desired salary and you’re unsure what’s reasonable, ask the employer what they consider appropriate. This often prevents you from underselling yourself.
Sometimes, companies simply fail to value their employees properly. Knowing your professional worth also means recognizing when you are being undervalued. Try negotiating or speaking with management — but if that leads nowhere, it may be time to consider finding a new employer.
