Want a Higher-Paying Job? Learn These Top Salary Negotiation Strategies

Three-quarters of employees who request a raise get one, according to PayScale. Those are pretty awesome odds -- so awesome that you can't afford not to ask for more money when you feel you deserve it, either before accepting a new position or in your current job.

[See: 15 Awesome Jobs That Pay More Than $90K.]

This is where the hard part comes in. Even if you feel ready for a raise or higher base salary and are comfortable asking for one, what salary negotiation strategies are the best ones to use? Use these three pointers to up the chances of success for your request.

Hold on to your cards. One of the toughest things about salary negotiation is being put on the spot to share your desired salary level or range. Recruiters and hiring managers may ask you directly about your expectations concerning salary, which can feel very intimidating if you aren't prepared with a response. It's always best to avoid being the first one to offer numbers, since if you price yourself too low, you'll never know if you could have received more -- yet if you ask for too much off the bat, you might price yourself right out of the opportunity. So try to get the employer to disclose the position's salary band first. For example, when asked about how much you're looking for, say something like: "I'd really like to know what the range is at your company for this particular position. I'm sure we can work something out within your ballpark range."

Consider the whole package. Many people get hung up on aiming for a specific dollar amount for their salary without regard for how much other negotiating factors are worth. While employers may balk at higher numbers for actual salary, they may be much more amenable to sweetening the deal by adding other benefits that can increase how far your paycheck stretches by saving you money in other ways. Paid time off is the most obvious extra negotiating chip, and the right time to negotiate for more of it is before you've accepted the job. You might request an extra week of vacation time or flexibility with other forms of paid time off. Other areas to investigate as part of your employment package include educational opportunities -- some employers will pay for you to learn new skills on or off the job -- and salary review schedules, which might afford you the opportunity to qualify for a raise sooner than is standard at the company.

[See: 12 Steps to Asking for a Raise -- and Getting It.]

Know the language. Practicing scripts in response to common salary scenarios can help you appear -- and really feel -- more confident when you're under the gun in an interview situation, whether you're being questioned about salary requirements or fielding specific offers. Try out these types of responses with a friend or colleague before talking salary with your recruiter or hiring manager:

-- If you receive a lowball offer that is clearly below the market range that you've researched but you're still interested in the job, say something like: "I'm really excited to receive your offer and would be thrilled to join your team, but my research shows that the typical salary for someone in this role is in the range of X to Y. Is it possible to consider matching that amount, based on industry averages?"

-- If you're considering more than one offer and the other company is offering you a higher salary, say something like: "I'm very excited about the possibility of working with your company and team, but I do have another offer. If it's possible to bump the salary up to match that offer of X, then I would love to accept." (Or if you want to ask them to go above the current offer to win your services, than ask for more.)

-- If you think there's wiggle room to negotiate up from the industry-average salary that the company has offered, say something like: "I think we are very close to an agreement, but I wanted to mention a few more qualifications that I bring to the table in relation to this position that might make me an even better fit for it than many other candidates. [Discuss your additional qualifications.] Based on these additional factors that make me uniquely qualified for this role, I'd love to see the compensation at X." Be sure that the number you're requesting is in line with research you've done on general salary ranges for your industry and your experience level.

[See: 10 Job Resolutions to Revitalize Your Career in 2016.]

Salary negotiation can be nerve-wracking, but it doesn't have to be quite so stressful if you prepare for it by practicing these top strategies. If you want to make more money either in a new job or your current one, you need to ask for it -- at the right time, in the right way.