How to tell if you're earning less than you're worth

These 3 steps can help you figure out if your salary matches your work.
Ideally, you like your job and take pleasure in the work you do.

But let's be honest: You're not doing it simply for the thrill of a day's work. You're also doing it for the paycheck.

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Be Paid What You're Really Worth

Asked more than 150 high-earning women, "Are you doing this for the money?" The overwhelming response was a definite no. What drove them were passion, recognition, challenge and independence. At the same time, they wanted to be well-compensated, because they felt they were worth it.

But that's not the case with most of us. We instinctively devalue ourselves. Those little voices in our heads insist: "Who do you think you are? No one's going to pay you that much." And I'm convinced self-depreciation goes right to the heart of our financial ruts.

You can easily learn negotiation techniques and assertiveness skills by taking courses or reading books. But the truth is this: If you're going to command more money, you have to truly believe you're worth it. Without that conviction, we lack the confidence to take a strong stand and the certitude to convince others. People always respond to our vibes far more than our words.

Many six-figure women admitted questioning their own value. Yet they didn't let that stop them. These women built their confidence like weightlifters build muscles -- by continually pushing themselves to take a stand, ask for more, demand what they're worth and say no when appropriate despite their trepidation.

Confidence-Building Tips

This advice directly from these women will help you pump up your self-worth along with your net worth:

Think Big, Then Think Even Bigger: Most of us, especially women, unwittingly limit our earnings by lowering our expectations. Even in studies where women are trained in negotiation strategies, they set their sights lower and end up with less money than men. The idea is to value yourself fairly compared to others in your field or at your level.

Do Your Research: One of the worst negotiating mistakes people make is picking a random number and then discovering it was way too low. The smarter ones avoid that pitfall by doing their homework. They discover their market value by researching going rates, then asking for more than what's offered to give themselves wiggle room.

Quantify Your Value: You can counter the tendency to downplay yourself by presenting tangible evidence of what you bring to the table. Maybe you saved your company $X or had an idea that generated so many sales. Keep a file of everything you've done. Don't wait for your review. Go in and ask for work, ask for responsibility, ask for challenge. Let your supervisor know exactly where your sights are set. Taking initiative is an effective means of demonstrating your value and intentions to an organization.

Practice Daily Affirmations: These positive statements are expressed as if they've already happened. Two examples: "I have the confidence to ask for what I want." "I welcome more money in my life." Write your affirmations down. Post them where you can see them easily. Say them out loud, as often as possible. As one affirmation enthusiast told me, "The more often I hear the words coming out my mouth, the more I internalize it, and the more my psyche knows it's going to happen."

Challenge Yourself in Areas Outside Your Job: Stretching yourself in any area of life has a ripple effect. If you can't quite get yourself to ask for a raise, try signing up for an art class or running a marathon. Anything that puts you out of your comfort zone builds confidence and self-worth.

Fake Confidence If Necessary: Asking for top dollar takes a lot of nerve, which most of us won't feel at the time. But that doesn't mean you can't fake it. Even six-figure women have doubted their worth, but they appear undaunted. Acting as if you're confident is a surefire antidote for weak knees, a pounding heart or a deflated ego. Besides, when you act as if you're worth a lot, you'll eventually convince yourself as well as others.

By practicing these tips, you'll begin to notice a shift in how you feel about yourself. Making more money becomes not something you should do, but something you have to do -- because you know in your heart you're worth it.

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Determine What You're Worth

Determining your worth is an essential first step in your job search.

Once you know the salary you can command, you can decide which jobs fall into your desired range and could be right for you.

Your salary research can also come in handy during the interview process, should the subject of salary come up. And it'll definitely be helpful if you get a job offer and want to negotiate salary.

Use this advice to figure out what your skills and experience are worth to a potential employer.

Information at Your Fingertips

Your salary expectations should be realistic.

Every position has a general salary range, based on what professionals in that job are currently earning. Research the range for your position before you start your job search.

Look online for the most accessible and up-to-date salary information. Salary Wizard lets you research salary by industry and location.

Go to the Source

Once you've researched the average salary for the job you're seeking, it's then time to go deeper.

You need to consider the job market in your industry as well as the value of unique knowledge and skills you may have.

Talk to people who work in the industry you're targeting. It's not always appropriate to discuss salary -- especially with people you don't know well -- so choose your contacts carefully. If you're working with a recruiter, he should be willing to share salary information. You can also ask advice of a mentor or close friend in the industry.

Finally, online communities and message boards are a useful and anonymous way to research salary.

Worth Is Subjective

What you're worth to a potential employer can vary. You may be more valuable to an employer if there's a shortage of people with your skills. You'll also likely be worth more in a market with a labor shortage or in a location with a small number of qualified job seekers.

Because a company will consider candidates with a range of skills and experience, they probably won't decide upon a specific salary for a position. Instead, they'll come up with a range that they're willing to pay.

You should think in terms of a salary range too. Determine the low and high salary that you're most comfortable with. And then assume that you'll probably end up somewhere in the middle.

More Than Simply Salary

So you've calculated your worth as an employee in the current market. And you've come up with a salary range that you're comfortable with. But there's one more thing to consider: Benefits.

Understand that your worth to a company is reflected in more than simply your salary. When a company decides what to pay an employee, it counts benefits as part of that compensation.

Companies include health insurance, 401(k) accounts and stock options in employee compensation. They also count perks like car allowances, vacation time and flexible schedules in a prospective employee's compensation package.

So when you're considering a job, think about the whole compensation and benefits package. And then decide if a company is truly giving you what you're worth.