Answer: You’re not alone in wondering if you’re getting the right salary for the job you have. Every job seeker is thinking of the very same thing — what is the right salary for this job I’m applying for?

And with times being hard the way they are now, many employees are getting restless, hoping their salaries will keep up with the increase in prices of basic goods.

First things first: A salary is compensation for services rendered. Ideally, the salary should be fair and should match the money equivalent of the services given. But sometimes, due to the company’s lack of resources for one, this does not happen, resulting in a low payout to the person who rendered service.

Before you come to that conclusion in your case, first make an honest assessment of your skills and qualifications. Know what you’re worth. Look at your educational achievement, as well as the skills you’re good at. Factor in as well the number of years you have been working.

Next, read the classified ads for the position you have. Some employers indicate the salary they are offering for a similar position such as yours. At most this should give you an idea as to how much an entry level post as secretary would fetch in terms of salary. Since you have been working for some time already, you should be earning well above such salary level.

You can also browse online for salaries for your position. One such local tool is at www.jobstreet.com.ph. Or talk to friends and contacts in the personnel departments of other companies. Just ask for the salary range of a secretary with a three-year work experience.

Bear in mind that salaries differ from one location to another. Jobs in major cities may come with higher salaries as compared to those in small towns in the provinces, due to the higher cost of living in urban areas.

If you feel that your current salary is not fair given your qualifications, you can go ahead and ask for a raise. It’s worth a try. But before doing so, make sure that you have been turning in good work consistently.

Companies usually conduct a formal evaluation of an employee’s work attitude and output annually. After such an evaluation, if you have scored well in it, ask for a raise when your boss is in a good mood. Be prepared to justify your need for it, citing your qualifications as well as your consistent excellent work.

For some companies, especially at this time when the business environment is not that rosy, granting salary increases may simply be beyond their capacity. Start-up companies may not afford it as they are still establishing themselves in the market. In that case, ask for other benefits instead, such as health card services, telecommuting, transportation and clothing allowance, more vacation time, or even additional training through workshops conducted outside the company. If you are valuable to the company, your employer will find a way to grant you a perk they can afford at this time.

Still, if any of these cannot be granted, don’t lose hope. Continue turning in good work, and in time, when the company is in a better position financially, you may be rewarded fairly.

In case, however, you feel that you really have to seek a higher-paying job given your family’s needs, don’t grab the first job you hear of. Scout around by combing the classified ads in newspapers and job websites, and by asking your network of friends and family for referrals. Find out all you can about a company before sending in your application.

Choose a company with offices near your residence so you can keep your cost of living low. Then when you are interviewed, highlight your skills. When you are offered the job and given a salary figure, ask what benefits you can get. Weigh all these against what you feel you are worth. Bargain if you have to do so. But please do your job hunting outside office hours since you are still obligated to render good work to your present employer.