Exactly. You don't want them to feel like you're overly mercinary and didn't even give them a chance to fix the problem by just being open about how you feel y

Exactly. You don't want them to feel like you're overly mercinary and didn't even give them a chance to fix the problem by just being open about how you feel you're not being paid what you're worth. There is a LOT that goes into that first conversation being an effective one and even more that goes into the follow up. But absent progress, ultimately highest leverage way to get them to move is to objectively establish your value with a competing offer. The largest raises I've ever seen have come on the heels of informing your company about another offer, but that's only valuable to you in THIS job if you're wanderlust hasn't already taken full root.