Raise after one year

[Lion06]

I am coming up on my 1-yr review and wanted to get some opinions on what I should expect for a raise. I had an excellent 6-month review, and expect the same at 1-yr. My schedule is often over 50 hours and needs to be trimmed down at our meetings. This happens while many others in my office in my role have 32 hours or less on their schedules. This happens, in my opinion (and in my boss's per my 6-month review), because people in the office like my work and want me working with them.
Should I expect a decent raise or should I be expecting the normal 3%-4% that everyone in here always talks about? The reason I ask is that I would think the first year is when your employer sees what you are really made of and how you fit into their company. That being said, it makes sense that this is when they would try to get you in line (pay-wise) with how you have performed for them since the starting salary for a new grad can't really be based on merit.
Any insight would be appreciated!

 

[Lion06]

FYI - I started out at a little under 50k.

 

[COEngineeer]

The only person that is capable to predict how much raise you can expect is you. Look at the history of employees there. If you see a lot of 1-3 year experienced people quit the company in the past, then you probably won't get a lot of raise. If you see a lot of experienced people in the office, then they will probably give you a competitive raise. Sometimes it is easier to get the salary you want by switching company. GL!

http://www.krmconsultants.com

 

[MadMango]

I would say expect the 3%, learning how to manage your expectations. If you get higher than that, good for you. Did you get a raise after your 6-month review? That may affect your annual increase (if any).

My father always said, "Don't count your chickens before they hatch."

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[michfan]

And factor in the economy. Lots of people looking for jobs = lower raises. Tight supply of workers = bigger raises to keep you where you are.

My first raise at one place was 10%...good review, hard worker, not many people available to do my job. Less than 5 years later, the company closed, I was out of work, high unemployment (it is still 7% in this area). Lots of people wanting the same jobs now, so raises around here don't even meet COL.

Good luck on your review!

 

[KENAT]

In my opinion the first year or two after graduation is one of the only times you can reasonably expect a significantly above inflation pay rise without changing employer, getting a promotion, picking up extra duties etc.

That said it's not a guarantee however, your value to the company grows rapidly in the first year or two but after that tends to grow more slowly if at all.

Take a look at thread731-180591 may have some points of interest.

50k doesn't sound like a bad starting wage so maybe you wont get a massive jump but it alsob depends on where you are, industry you're in etc.