Here at Girlboss, we have never stopped talking about the pay gap because it has never stopped being a problem. In 2026, women earn $0.82 for every dollar earned by men, and that number actually got worse from last year. And while the old story was that women just weren't negotiating, the data has shifted in a way that should make everyone angrier: a 2024 study out of Harvard found that women are now negotiating at least as often as men; they're just not getting the same results.
So when you find out Joe in accounting is making more than you for doing the same job, the problem isn't that you didn't ask. The problem is a system that still hasn't caught up. That said, knowing that doesn't pay your rent. Here's what to actually do about it.
First: You’re Perfectly Right to Be Angry
No one wants to learn they could have been earning significantly more for the work they've been doing. If there's ever a time to call someone from your inner circle and cry or scream into the phone, this is it.
When Britt Larson, a director at a political marketing communication firm in Lake City, Utah, learned she was making less than her predecessor at a previous job, it hit hard. "It just destroyed me for weeks," she said. She wishes she'd been able to move from anger to action sooner.
"It's okay to use your emotions to fuel you and motivate you," says Heather Mills, founder of Women Who Ask and an employment discrimination attorney. After you're done expressing your rage, take a breath so you can keep a cool head during the actual negotiation.
Gather Your Receipts Before You Do Anything
Before you go storming into your boss's office, get your facts in order. Start by asking yourself where your information came from and how reliable it is. Is it a rumor from a gossipy coworker, or have you seen it in writing or heard it from your most trusted office confidante? Don't rely on job titles alone; duties vary, and factors like whether you supervise another team member can affect compensation.
Research market rates on PayScale and Glassdoor to understand what someone with your skills and experience should be earning. Large companies often have internal pay scale breakdowns through HR; you can ask whether you're on the low or high end of your bracket without making it a confrontation. Once you have that, you'll know whether you're asking to move between pay brackets or close a gap within one.
In a pay transparency state? As of 2026, 16 states require employers to post salary ranges in job listings. If you're in one of them — including California, New York, and Colorado — you may already have access to ranges for your role without asking anyone. Check your state's requirements before your next conversation.
For a deeper dive on prep work, this guide to salary negotiation basics covers how to build your case from the ground up.
Look At Yourself Through Your Boss’s Eyes
It's uncomfortable, but it'll put you at an advantage. If the last few months haven't been your strongest, this probably isn't the moment to push. And if you were recently hired and are still finding your footing while discovering that your male coworker earns more, it may not be time yet, as Larson puts it.
If you've been crushing it and taking on new responsibilities with real results, take stock. Pull up the job description you were hired for and write a new one that reflects what you actually do today. If those two documents look nothing alike, you have a strong case. For more on framing your value in business terms, this piece on asking for a raise has a useful framework for tying your performance to outcomes your manager actually cares about.
Give Your Boss a Heads-up Before the Conversation
If you have regular check-ins with your supervisor, a simple "I'd like to talk about compensation this week" is enough. Otherwise, put time on the calendar and give advance notice. "Pay transparency has become more of the norm, but it's still a hush-hush conversation," says Mills. When people are ambushed, they get defensive. Giving your boss room to show up prepared will get you a better conversation than cornering them.
How to Open the Conversation
However tempting it is, don't go in blazing. Try a direct but non-aggressive opener: "I've learned some information about compensation, and I'd like to discuss." Then stick to your own case — leave coworkers and rumors out of it. Eileen Scully, author of In the Company of Men, offers this script:
Try this word-for-word:
"In my last review, you told me that I had made significant progress [doing x and y]. My reviews from clients and peers have always reflected strong performance and potential. I'm only making [x], and I recently learned that one of my teammates is at [y]. We started around the same time, in the same role. How can you and I work together to bring my salary closer to where I should be?"
Then stop talking. Let your manager process and respond.
If you want to go deeper into negotiation language and tactics, this roundup of negotiation tips covers how to handle pushback, use anchoring, and keep the conversation constructive when it starts to stall.
What to Do When They Stall
Supervisors sometimes kick the can: "now isn't a good time," "there's nothing in the budget right now." Don't let the conversation die. Ask for a follow-up review in a few months and nail down a specific date before you leave the room. You may not walk out with more money immediately, but you'll have a game plan and a timeline, and you'll have signaled clearly that this isn't going away.
"Just don't let the conversation die." Britt Larson
Keep a Written Record of Everything
From the moment you find out you're underpaid, start a log. Date every conversation. Write down who said what. This does two things: it keeps your timeline accurate so you can follow up effectively, and, on the off-chance you end up with a legitimate discrimination case, you'll have the documentation you need.
It's the kind of habit that feels like overkill until it isn't. And for context on the bigger systemic picture driving all of this, this piece on why asking isn't enough is worth a read; the data is both infuriating and useful to have in your back pocket.
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