<prompt> Human: -throwaway account, details and exact pay anonymized though with same relative value-The company is a small 30 people consulting firm. I came into this company in 2014 as a contractor, and was hired in 2015 at an AC position due to outstanding work. In the beginning of 2015, the company brought somebody I referred and lobbied extensively for on as a contractor. He was hired full-time in the middle of 2015 at AC position due to his outstanding work. As we are friends, we discussed salaries recently and it turned out that hes now making 15k more than me after raises were dispensed a month ago - I now make 75k, he now makes 90k.My company has two different realms of work. He focused in realm 1, and did extraordinary work. I began in realm 1 in 2014, but worked in realm 2 throughout most of 2015. To be honest, if you had to pit us against one another he is probably the more valuable employee as hes key to realm 1. On the other hand, Im doing an objectively great job in realm 2 great review results and am uncomfortable that with the same title and the fact that got him into the company Im earning considerably less.How if at all can I address this pay gap so that 1 I dont destroy my good relationships with the firm leadership, 2 I get a raise, 3 I dont throw my friend who I referred under the bus either. All ideas welcome, thank you!  <response>: Focus on why youre worth more or market place rates. What he makes is irrelevant. 