<prompt> Human: Im just so happy, and I kinda need to tell someone about this, so heres my story.I started working with my current company three years ago to the day, march 15th 2014. The company is great, work from home, great colleagues, Im good at what I do, conditions are nice, etc.Three years ago, when I had my job interview, during the final process, they asked me what my expected salary would be, and I told them based on what I was able to see from other similar jobs, and past work experience. I told them, and it was approved as soon as I said it. I thought it strange that they would agree so quickly, and kinda wondered if I had just lowballed myself to this salary.Then a full year and a half came by, and I got my yearly review. Youre doing great work, clients love you, how do you like it, etc. Listen, Im gonna give you a 6 raise! Normally I would only give 3 or so to people, but you get double! I was pretty happy with the raise, but still felt that this was them playing catch-up on my salary to match other people.Next year, pretty much the same story. Big raise, lots more than others or so they way, good job. Still, Im happy.Then, I see on glassdoor that someone posted that a project manager job at my job makes significantly more than I. Like 30 more. That kinda pissed me off. My title is not project manager, but I do manage projects, and clients, and I never really cared about my title. To me, I should make close to that. Then I found a former colleague who had that job, and asked him how much he is paid, and it was pretty much that amount. I was more angry I was making so little in comparison.By looking around, I was able to access some contracts for some employees that were not protected, and I realized that I was making less than anybody else in my position despite being the oldest employee, and also having more responsibilities with clients and projects. I chalked it up to me not having negotiated a good enough salary when I came in, and I had to fix that.Talking to my former colleague, he told me that I had to get my ducks in a row, potentially find another job offer to gain leverage, and also realize that since I was not living near the big city i relocated about three hours away to a smaller city, it could be difficult for me to leverage since I would have trouble finding a satisfactory job offer in a smaller market.I took that into consideration and decided to simply go see my boss about this. We have a great relationship, and I could see his reaction and take it from there. So I went, told him I found other peoples salaries and how I did it so they could fix that breach, and I plead my case. He took that to HR and the owner of the company its a small firm.Took them a week, and then he came to me. He said they were a bit pissed I checked the salaries of other people, that I shouldnt have, and I told him yeah, sorry, but not that sorry actually. I kinda stumbled onto them, and I didnt tell anybody about it, but it certainly helped me to leverage. We argued over some details, and I had a feeling I was gonna be offered something small, but then they gave me a 20 increase effective april 1st, with an additional 7 effective august 1st!I think I went against most advice here when I went to negotiate my salary no plan, comparing myself to others, etc., and I cant say I was happy doing it, but it paid off :Edit: guys, I get it. Im going to lose my job, then not ever being able to find a new one, on top of going to prison. Its possible, but I say its unlikely. My boss admitted he felt I was a bit underpaid, in the end its an upward move to a more project-manager job with a salary increase, and knowing the company, its people, the industry and the value I bring to the company, I wouldnt say I feel at risk of losing my job here. But if I do, I 100 promise Ill tell you.To expand a bit on that, the files were on a google drive that I had access to. Im not sure if everyone had access to it, I didnt check. I was not looking for any of that, but yes I did have a look when I noticed that folder. I was actually looking for my hiring documents, and it just so happened that some others were just about right next to mine, and I had a look.  <response>: People: do not do what this person did; you will be fired. Sorry not sorry. 