<prompt> Human: I have made 80k for the past 6 years. When I was hired I was told I could expect cost of living raises in the tune of 3 per year. I have not had a raise in 6 years because I was told, the economy is bad. How much should I be making now? Things like gas went way up and then back down. Housing went up and down and is back up again. Food has gone up and up and up. Not sure how to really figure out how much I should be making to be even. My non-finance-degree math tells me at 3 per year I should be around 95,500. So when the economy turns around should I ask for a 20 raise? Other people tell me I should be happy to have a job and stop complaining. Others tell me I should change employers. Any opinions?edit while I am here, my take home is exactly 2k per 2 week pay period after taxes and health insurance 52kyr. I file single, but I am married with 2 kids, I like to guarantee I get a return even if it is not the most fiscally smart thing to do. Is this normal compared to the average US person?  <response>: Google the inflation rate trend for the past half decade. Its been around 1-1.5year. Youre making less now than when you started.Apply for new jobs. Hopefully get an offer. Negotiate pay with your employer based on the value you bring, not based on the economy. Unless you were horribly overpaid when you were hired, you should have gotten steady raises. They are playing you. Move on, try negotiating with a counter offer if you can get one, but be prepared to walk away from your current place. You probably should have left after two straight years of no comp increase. 