Should I ask for a raise?
The question is almost never whether to ask — it is what you will do with either answer. Decide your response to a no before you walk in, and the conversation stops being frightening.
What to actually weigh
What happens if they say no?
This is the only question that matters. If a no changes nothing, you are asking for reassurance. If a no starts a job search, you are negotiating.
What is the evidence, not the feeling?
Scope that grew, outcomes you own, market rates for the same title elsewhere. Feeling underpaid is real, but it is not the argument.
Are you asking the person who decides?
Many managers cannot approve a raise, only advocate for one. Knowing which you are talking to changes what you ask for.
Frequently asked
When is the right time to ask for a raise?
After you have visibly absorbed more scope, and before the budget cycle closes. Timing matters less than evidence — a well-documented case in a bad month beats a vague one in a good one.
What do I do if they say no?
Ask what specifically would change the answer, and by when. A no with no conditions attached is information about the company, not about you.