I quadrupled my salary to nearly $200,000 by age 30 because I advocated for myself and knew when to pivot. Here's how I did it.

• Christian Lovell earns nearly $200,000 as an analyst for the LA County Department of Human Resources.
• She started her career earning under $40,000 but leveled up through job selection and negotiation.
• To land her next high-paying roles, she identified transferrable skills and advocated herself.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Christian Lovell, a 30-year-old career strategist, human-resources professional, and online influencer in Los Angeles. Insider has verified her income with documentation. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I'm an analyst for the Los Angeles County Department of Human Resources, where I provide job placement and training services to LA County municipal employees.