If you have stayed in the same company for the last three or four years, there is a good chance your salary has not kept up with the market. Companies typically give annual pay rises of around 2–4%. That might just about match inflation in a good year — but it is rarely enough to reflect how much more valuable you have become.
Job hopping — moving to a new employer every two or three years — is often a much more effective way to grow your pay. But it comes with risks, and you need to approach it carefully. In this article, we look at why it works, how much you can realistically expect to earn, and how to do it in a way that does not hurt your career.
Why do companies pay more to new hires?
It seems unfair, but it is often true. New hires are frequently paid more than existing employees doing exactly the same job. There are a few reasons for this.
When a company advertises a role, it has to compete in the open market. To attract good candidates, it needs to offer at or above the current market rate. Meanwhile, internal pay rises are controlled by salary bands and budget cycles — and many managers simply do not have the authority to give large increases, even when someone deserves them.
There is also the matter of negotiation. When you are applying for a new role, both sides expect some back and forth. You are in a position of strength — they want you, and you have not committed to anything yet. Compare that to an internal pay review, where the power balance is very different.
How much more can you expect to earn?
Research consistently shows that people who change jobs earn meaningfully more than those who stay. The exact amount depends on your industry, role, and how in-demand your skills are — but 10–30% salary increases are commonly reported when moving to a new company.
In sectors like technology, finance, and professional services, increases of 20–30% are not unusual. In other areas, 10–15% is more typical. Either way, compare that to a 3% annual raise. You would need to stay at a company for seven or eight years to match what a single well-timed move could give you.
Example
If you earn £45,000 and get a 3% annual raise, after five years you will be on around £52,200. If instead you moved jobs twice in that time and negotiated a 20% increase each time, you could be on over £64,800 — a difference of more than £12,000 a year.
How often is too often?
This is the most common concern people have. Will employers think you are unreliable if you change jobs frequently?
The honest answer is: it depends. One or two moves in the early years of your career is completely normal and often expected. Changing jobs every twelve to eighteen months for a decade, however, can raise questions.
A reasonable rule of thumb is to stay at each job for at least two years. This gives you enough time to make a genuine contribution, learn from the role, and have real examples to talk about in interviews. Leaving before two years — repeatedly — can start to look like a pattern.
That said, some industries are more forgiving of short tenures than others. Tech, contracting, and consulting roles often involve shorter stints as a matter of course. Know the norms in your field.
How to job hop strategically
If you decide to make a move, a few things will make a big difference to the outcome.
Know your market value first
Before you start applying, do your research. Find out what people in your role, region, and experience level are actually being paid. There is no point accepting a new role that is barely better than your current one. Use tools like our Market Salary tool to see where you sit against ONS pay data.
Look at the full package, not just the headline salary
A £5,000 salary increase sounds significant, but it might be worth less than you think once you account for pension contributions, bonuses, remote working, and other benefits. Use our job offer comparison tool to model what a new offer would actually mean in your pocket — after tax, NI, and pension.
Time your move carefully
The job market changes. Moving in a strong market gives you much more negotiating power than moving during a downturn or after large-scale layoffs in your sector. Keep an eye on what is happening in your industry before you decide to move.
Be honest about your reasons
You do not need to apologise for changing jobs. In interviews, frame each move as a deliberate career decision — you were looking for more responsibility, a new challenge, or experience in a specific area. Employers understand ambition. They do not want someone who left because they could not get on with their manager — even if that is partly true.
Leave on good terms
This matters more than most people think. You never know when a former manager will be asked for a reference, or when your paths will cross again. Give proper notice, hand over your work properly, and stay professional right to the end. Your reputation follows you throughout your career.
Risks to consider
Job hopping is not without risk. Moving to a new company always involves some uncertainty. The culture might be very different from what was described in the interview. The team might not be a good fit. You will likely have a probation period where your job security is lower than in your current role.
Think carefully before leaving a stable job for a marginal financial gain. The increase needs to be worth the disruption, uncertainty, and effort involved in making the move. A 10% raise that comes with a much longer commute, a weaker pension, or a less supportive team might not be the win it looks like on paper.
Before you negotiate, know your numbers
Whether you are asking for a raise in your current role or negotiating a new offer, it helps to go into the conversation with real numbers. A lot of people have a rough sense of their worth but no concrete figures to back it up.
Use our salary calculator to see your exact current take-home pay. Then use the job offer comparison tool to model what a new offer would actually mean each month. A headline salary of £50,000 versus £45,000 sounds like a £5,000 difference — but after tax and NI, it is closer to £250 a month. Knowing that number before you negotiate means you can push for what actually moves the dial.