<prompt> Human: I am approaching my 3 year work anniversary at a small law firm. I started as the part-time Office Assistant when I was 20 and making 7.50 an hour. Im now 23, and have worked up to Office Manager at 15.50 an hour. During that time, I had picked up an extra job serving tables and was making an average of 13ish an hour. I actually put in my notice here, and told my boss the lawyer I needed to make enough to where I could at least afford to live with a roommate or two. She came back the next day, offered me 14 and let go her other two employees in order to keep me here. Im not including that bit to brag, but to illustrate that I must be somewhat valuable if shes willing to do that. And to point out that in doing that, I took over doing everyones job completely by myself. So now its been the two of us for two years, with the occasional contractor which I always manage.I am still in school, working towards a bachelors degree. If I really wanted an associates, I could apply to graduate and have about 7 right now because Ive changed my major so many times. Nevertheless, whenever my boss and I talk about pay, she considers me as having an associates.Almost 3 months ago, we hired my first direct report, who is now the Office Assistant. He is a high school student and works 10 hours a week. I will admit, learning to manage someone who has never worked in an office setting before has been extremely challenging for me. Especially when his job is essentially to make my job easier, and I just end up spending more time correcting and coaching him than if I would have done it all myself. Im grateful that Im getting to learn and develop these skills now, though and my boss has complimented me several times on how Im doing with him. Right after we hired him, she said that after his 90 day review, I would get a 1 raise because of the added responsibility if it works out with him.So despite me working really hard to be a patient and effective managerleader, he just isnt getting it. I dont want to assume, but I get the impression hes kind of half-assing it because its just a way to make some money until hes old enough to enlist in the military, which weve always known has been his ultimate plan. Maybe the job isnt what he expected. Hes just a kid, and I get that. So my boss and I decided it would be best if we let him go and hire someone with more experience.So she wants to bring on another woman, part-time, who used to be the Office Manager here nearly 5 years ago. She only worked here for 6 months before moving with her family when her husband was relocated for his job which apparently is an exec for a fairly large company. Because I handle payroll, budgets, and everything else financial, she told me she offered this chick 16 an hour and that she believes the two of us should be making the same amount and proceeded to rave about how awesome she was and how she would take so much off my plate.So Im inclined to think that Im being replaced or subtly moved into another position. And quite honestly, Im really upset and almost offended that she would tell me all about how amazing this woman was at doing my job, despite me doing it all myself, being an extremely loyal employee even when we were one late payment away from going belly up, and being the only employee who has worked for her longer than a year. I do a lot of marketing as well, which I dont particularly love and Ive told her that many times. But as far as the office management stuff, I know I do a fantastic job. The only things that fall through the cracks are on the marketing side because, well, I have to run the office or theres not going to be anything to market.But the first point of this whole story is: Am I wrong for feeling like I deserve to be making more than this girl? Ive been here for 3 years, and have worked my butt off singlehandedly running everything for the last 2. This woman worked here for 6 months, has roughly 10 years of work experience she only works when she wants to, because her husband is making the big bucks and doesnt really want her to have a job anyhow, has no college experience whatsoever and hasnt been employed at all in 4 years. The second point is: Am I wrong for being irritated that if she offered the new girl 16, and believes we should be paid the same, it means Im not getting 16.50 like I was supposed to? This is less of an irritation than the first point because I do understand the raise was contingent upon this guy working out, and it didnt.Because my job is doing everything, I ran two pay reports. One for the more administrative duties and one for the marketing duties. I averaged the two and had planned to ask for 17.80 when we discussed pay at my review this month, with an agreement that since its such a big jump, that will be the max until I graduate in 2 years, hopefully.Honest feedback would be greatly appreciated, even if Im completely wrong for thinking this way! And I will answer any questions that would be relevant to the situation that I may have forgotten to include.  <response>: This woman did good work and has experience, theres no reason that she shouldnt be compensated fairly. You should not worry about what she is making as you have no idea what she will actually contribute. People that keep score of the good things that their boss does for their coworkers for themselves are horrible to work with. Dont be one of those people. The fact that her husband makes big bucks and the fact that she only works when she wants to has zero bearing on whether she deserves a certain salary and even less to do with you.All that matters is whether your compensation is fair or not. If you feel you are underpaid, then your first question should be Do I think I could get paid more working somewhere else?. If the answer to that is yes, then you have power to negotiate. If the answer is no, then youll just have keep on trying to slowly get paid better.Either way, both your and the new persons compensation is likely chump change compared to the full time lawyers. The battle isnt you vs. this new lady, its you vs. your boss. 