5 Strategies for Salary Negotiation as a Latina

Living with the effects of pay gaps can be brutal on those who are in the minority, especially women and people of color. A March 2021 study by the National Women’s Law Center reported that Hispanic women receive the lowest earnings of any group, a mere average of $0.55 for every dollar paid to white men for doing the same job. If the pay gap issue is not addressed soon, it could take another 185 years for Latina women to earn the same amount their white male counterparts earn.

Source: NWLC Wage Gap for Latina Women State Rankings

This is where salary negotiation comes into play. Knowing your worth and addressing your income expectations upfront can significantly aid your career trajectory and earning potential. Here are some helpful strategies on how to negotiate salary, especially as a Latina.

Before you go through with the interview process, ensure that you are seeking out work that correctly aligns with your goals. Maria Gironas, senior media partnerships manager at Reddit, likes to conduct a self-worth audit about once a year.

“Do the math of what your life looks like now,” she instructed. “Get an idea of your expenses and your goals and how much you want to spend and such.”

Are there bilingual stipends available in your field? Research pay for the job you are interested in, and what the wage gap looks like in that particular industry. This research can help you know what you are getting into before applying a job.

But pay gap issues may arise after a Latina has been hired, too, in the form of lower raises and fewer promotions compared to white men and women, according to data from Lean In.

Fintech professional and Latina Astrid Garay explained, “The more educated you are on what the average salary is for your position and industry, the better prepared you will be to not only ask for a raise, but to also make sure you are not being underpaid.”

Latinas may grow up in a culture that could value family over everything. This can dredge up feelings of guilt when considering what their worth is heading into a new job. Having a higher salary expectation in mind can make them feel like they are acting selfishly because they are prioritizing themselves.

If you are lucky enough to have a recruiter helping you, be upfront with them about your financial needs. Do you have a family? Are there any medical expenses, student loans, or big purchases to consider? They are your advocate throughout the hiring process — and often into your first few months on the job.

For Garay, she’s always been fascinated with technology and chose to pursue an engineering degree from Princeton University to help solve real-world problems. “I often find myself being fearful of rejection or experiencing imposter syndrome in the workplace because I don’t think I am competent, and I doubt my own skillset,” she said.

Work cultures often prompt BIPOCS to doubt their own abilities and experience imposter syndrome. But as a Latina, you can work to overcome this falsity by becoming well-versed with the community or client base and familiarizing yourself with the company’s work, mission, and goals.

Doing this can also help you create your elevator pitch when it comes time to negotiate a raise or higher opening salary. Outline how you will approach your ask, detail your accomplishments, and finalize any ideas you may have for the future.

“Remember to always be positive and communicate very clearly and effectively as to what you are looking for in terms of a salary increase and growth within the company,” Garay said.

Many companies will include clauses in their contracts that specifically ask that you not share your income with your colleagues. This is a red flag. Under the National Labor Relations Act, all employees are granted the right to communicate their wages with their coworkers. Having the ability to discuss your earnings can help protect you and your coworkers.

“I will never forget when a fellow young female coworker of mine who was helping me adjust to my new role as seller on the team said, ‘I want to share with you my pay progression, because I think it’s super important for us as women in an industry that we are very underrepresented in, to make sure we are getting paid fairly,'” explained Garay. “I appreciated her transparency with me and her support for my career that ever since then, I want to do the same for others.”

Once you receive a job offer, be ready to start a negotiation conversation, even if you are happy with the offer.

If culturally you may have been conditioned not to show confidence, then every woman, and especially those of color, should prepare to assert confidence in their professional abilities during negotiation conversations. This can impress a potential employer.

“You are at the stage where the employer really wants you as an employee, so it is a great opportunity to show them that you are a confident future employee that knows what you have to offer,” Garay said. “Even if you are happy with your offer, you should still negotiate. The worst that can happen is that they say no … and the best that can happen is that you get more money than you expected.”

Once you secure the job, it’s time to look ahead to approaching raises. Garray suggested keeping a list of accomplishments that have contributed positively to your work.

“Don’t forget to write down even the little things. I always keep a list of my accomplishments so that when reviews come, I am well prepared to discuss my achievements and leverage this list when asking for a salary raise and/or promotion,” Garay said.

Looking for a little extra help in the negotiation process? Here are free resources to prepare you for a higher salary, whether you are just beginning the job hunt or waist-deep in interviews.

Be confident and know your worth. The best career advice Garay has ever received was, “You don’t get the opportunities you don’t ask for.” And if you didn’t get the raise you asked for, set up a conversation to discuss the next steps and create specific goals to help you achieve that raise.