No one is going to pay you more unless they think you're valuable and you're departure is a credible possibility.
I know it's a lot of work, but the best strategy is to interview for jobs consistently and regularly, regardless of whether you are happy with your current job. Shop around your offers, get companies to fight over you. Use all the leverage you have. You don't get more money without demanding it.
Power and money are never given, they are only taken.
At my 2nd full-time job, starting as a junior in a team, I got a higher starting salary than what I was comfortable asking at the interview, plus got a yearly 10% salary increase for the next 5+ years. When I left the company I still got invited to the Christmas party, even though I was no longer working for them. Also, the local managing director grew out from being a developer 15+ years prior (in the same company), and new all his 300+ employees by name. There are always exceptions to a rule.
Paradoxically, the BEST time to job hunt and negotiate is when you're in a job you really like.
This sucks, of course, for all sorts of reasons, but it's amazing how much "Actually I really like my current job, so you'd need to pay (some big number) to get me to move" will sway people more than "well I think market rate is about X"
This is good knowledge. You probably can't say you know directly. But build a case for asking for more and you now know an upper limit (you can even go a bit higher). Try to find a local salary survey, that can be very helpful. Good Luck :)
