How To Get Paid What You Are Worth

How To Get Paid What You Are Worth

By Mark Wager

One of the most common frustrations I hear from people, whether they’re employees, entrepreneurs, or leaders, is this: “I know I’m worth more than what I’m being paid.”

It’s a statement that carries with it a mixture of anger, disappointment, and deep longing — because we don’t just work for money. We work for recognition. We work to feel seen. To feel that what we bring to the world has value, and that value is acknowledged.

If you’ve ever felt that you are not being paid what you’re worth, know this: you are not alone. And more importantly, there is a path forward. But it’s not about demanding more, stamping your foot, or waiting for someone to notice you. It’s about stepping into your own power and reshaping how others perceive your value — and how you perceive it yourself.

Here’s how you can start getting paid what you are truly worth.

Know Your True Value

Everything begins with one crucial step: you must know your true value.

Not what you think you’re worth on an emotional level, not what your friends or family tell you — but what the market says your skills, experience, and results are worth right now.

Value is determined by the problems you solve and the impact you create. It’s not about your job title. It’s not even about your hours. It’s about outcomes.

Ask yourself:

• What problems do I solve better than others?
• What measurable results have I achieved?
• How would the business, team, or clients suffer if I wasn’t here?

If you can clearly articulate the difference you make — not just in vague terms but in tangible ways — then you are starting to uncover your true market value. Knowledge is power. Confidence without evidence sounds like arrogance. Confidence backed by facts sounds like wisdom.

Stop Waiting For Permission

Here’s a hard truth: no one is going to come and hand you your worth on a silver platter.

The world rewards those who ask, those who step forward and claim their value.

If you are waiting for someone to notice your hard work and voluntarily offer you more, you may be waiting a very long time. Not because you’re not valuable — but because in the busyness of life, people rarely stop to ask themselves if they are underpaying you. It’s not personal. It’s just human nature.

Your job is to advocate for yourself. To believe so deeply in the value you bring that it would be a disservice not to raise your hand and speak up.

This isn’t about being aggressive or entitled. It’s about having the courage to stand up for the impact you create. You don’t need permission to believe in your worth. You need boldness.

Build Your Case, Not Just Your Feelings

When it’s time to ask for what you’re worth — whether it’s a salary negotiation, a freelance contract, or a client deal — you must be ready to build a case, not just express feelings.

Saying “I feel underpaid” is not persuasive.

Saying “Since I took on this role, team productivity has increased by 20% and client satisfaction scores are at an all-time high” — now that’s persuasive.

Gather evidence:

• Success stories
• Metrics and performance results
• Testimonials and endorsements
• Skills you have developed that add new value

Think of yourself as a business case. You are showing the return on investment that you bring. Emotions can open a conversation, but evidence closes the deal.

Position Yourself As An Asset, Not A Cost

Too many people go into negotiations thinking like an expense: “I cost X amount, I deserve a little more.”

But businesses, clients, and organisations are not looking to increase their costs — they are looking to maximise their investment.

Position yourself differently. Frame your worth in terms of value added, not costs incurred.

Instead of “I need more because it’s fair,” think:

• “Here’s the additional revenue, efficiency, or reputation I have brought.”
• “Here’s how I’ve helped the team overcome challenges.”
• “Here’s what I plan to deliver in the next six months.”

When you are seen as a multiplier of success, not just a taker of resources, the conversation changes dramatically. People are willing to invest more when they see you as someone who makes things better, faster, and stronger.

Be Willing to Walk Away (Respectfully)

One of the hardest but most important truths is this: you may have to be willing to walk away to get what you are worth.

If you have built your case, presented your value, and still find that your worth is not recognised — it may not be a reflection of you. It may be a reflection of the environment you are in.

Staying in a place that undervalues you over time chips away at your self-esteem. It normalises the idea that you are “less than.” And the longer you stay, the harder it becomes to leave.

Walking away doesn’t mean burning bridges or throwing ultimatums. It means calmly and respectfully choosing yourself. It means trusting that your value will be better appreciated elsewhere — and giving yourself permission to find the environment where your light can shine.

Courage sometimes looks like speaking up. Other times, it looks like stepping out.

Invest In Yourself Relentlessly

Here’s something the top 5% of earners understand deeply: if you want to be paid more, you have to be worth more — not just today, but every year.

That means continual growth. Continual learning. Continual investing in your own skills, mindset, and network.

The market pays for scarcity and excellence. The more rare and valuable your skills become, the less you have to convince others of your worth — it becomes self-evident.

Take courses. Seek out mentors. Build side projects that showcase your talents. Stay curious. Stay hungry. Treat your own development not as a luxury, but as a non-negotiable priority.

When you relentlessly invest in yourself, opportunities start to chase you, not the other way around.

Believe You Deserve It

Finally, and perhaps most importantly: you must truly believe that you deserve to be paid what you are worth.

Self-worth is the foundation on which all external worth is built.

If deep down you feel unworthy — if you believe you are “lucky” to have a seat at the table, rather than knowing you earned it — then no amount of evidence or strategy will fully close the gap.

People can feel it when you don’t fully believe in yourself. And unfortunately, if you undervalue yourself, the world often follows your example.

You must walk into negotiations, opportunities, and conversations with the quiet, steady belief that you bring real, tangible value — and that you are simply asking for a fair exchange of that value.

This isn’t arrogance. It’s alignment.

It’s recognising that your talents, your efforts, and your results deserve to be met with respect — and yes, with the financial reward that matches their impact.

Getting paid what you are worth is not just about money.

It’s about respect.

It’s about standing up for your own value.

It’s about refusing to shrink in the face of fear or doubt.

It requires preparation.

It requires courage.

And above all, it requires belief — belief that you are not just hoping for a lucky break, but stepping into the rightful rewards of the impact you create.

You have gifts that the world needs. You have contributions that deserve to be recognised. And the journey to getting paid what you are worth is not about waiting for someone to see it.

It’s about you seeing it first — and showing up every day in a way that no one else can ignore.

Because at the end of the day, no one else gets to decide your value but you.