When my contract was up for renewal, what worked for me was to mention to my manager that people doing my job in other companies were being paid $20 more per ho

When my contract was up for renewal, what worked for me was to mention to my manager that people doing my job in other companies were being paid $20 more per hour than I was. I was hoping for a $5 increase or maybe even a $10 one but he gave me the whole $20 and made me promise not to tell anyone. Six months later, we got a new CEO and my contract was terminated because I cost too much.