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Q.  It’s been more than a year since I got a raise.  My supervisors say I’m doing a good job, and I get positive comments from my clients.  I know it’s a weird economic time, but no one has said anything about a formal performance review or increase.  What should I expect?  -TP

A.  Since your last review and increase occurred more than a year ago, you should simply ask your supervisor or HR manager about normal timing of performance reviews.  This may be all that it takes to trigger the process.  Some organizations have frozen salary increases or delayed them, but performance reviews still should be conducted.  One year salary adjustments are normal for individuals below the VP level, while more senior positions sometimes average 18 months to two years.

As far as what to expect, U.S. Labor Department statistics indicate that the average annual wage increase during the past 12 months was 1.8%, the lowest amount since the government started tracking salary increases nearly 30 years ago.  Keep in mind that’s for the “average worker,” which means some individuals get less and others get more.   

You might want to check out the handy Pay Raise Calculator to determine the impact of potential percentage increases awaiting you.  About.com also offers an interesting Salary Comparison and Salary Calculator that allows you to determine what various PR positions pay in your geographic area.