Start by asking for a raise, a 15 minute conversation can usually net you a decent chunk of change.
After you get your raise phone some recruiters, ask for more from the new company.
If you get a raise and another offer you've probably got your 30k.
After you get your raise phone some recruiters, ask for more from the new company.
If you get a raise and another offer you've probably got your 30k.
Edit—To imsofuture's point below: Yes, come to your employer with another offer that you would actually take, but with a real preference to stay (otherwise, just go). Ask for a raise, and if the discussion doesn't go anywhere, describe the decision you face between more money elsewhere and a preference to stay if the money were not a differentiator.
This is not extortion, and a reasonable employer will not treat it as such. It is the way you find out what you're worth and get paid commensurately. Changing jobs is not the only way to get a raise, and it's certainly not the best way—for you or for your employer.
You will be the first up against the wall if you accept a counter offer to stay.
That's a threat, sort of. But it's veiled enough that your boss can give you a raise without feeling like you forced his hand. He can give you a raise without it being step one in a two step plan to get rid of you.
If he doesn't... well, then you take the other offer.
Don't lie. Deflect, even if it's bluntly. Saying "I don't believe that's relevant, but I will tell you how much I'd like to make" pretty much says "I'm underpaid" but also says "I know I'm underpaid and I expect better," which tells them something useful about you that you actually want them to know.
Leave because you don't like your job, or because you'd really rather being making more money elsewhere doing something else. If you like your job, give your employer a chance to pay you enough to keep you.
Let me rephrase it as I understand it: ask for a raise. If you get it, then look to get another job where you can get an even higher raise. If you don't get that other job, then stay. If you don't get a raise in the first place, either stay or look for another job.
On 50k, ask for raise, now on 65k. Ask new employer to beat current salary, offer of 80k.
Without the first raise you don't get to leverage a higher salary at the new job for the 30-50k op needs. And good luck getting 30k raise at the same job, that just doesn't happen.