Congrats, you just got a "dry promotion" — no raise included

Is a workplace promotion really a promotion if it doesn't come with a raise? The short answer is no, but that isn't stopping a growing share of U.S. employers from offering workers what's known as a "dry promotion."

Also known as a no-raise promotion, a dry promotion is when a worker gets an upgraded title and more job responsibilities, but without an upgrade in compensation. The trend isn't new, but tends to resurface when the economy falters, according to a recent Wall Street Journal article noting that the number of employers offering people new job titles in lieu of commensurate raises has increased 5% since 2018, to 13% in 2024.    

Like a bar that doesn't serve alcohol, dry promotions lack the heady ingredient that most clearly signals how much a business values an employee — money. So how should workers respond when their boss asks them to take on a greater role without also getting a bump in salary?