How to Negotiate Your Salary After a Job Offer

You did it! You searched dozens of job listings, polished your résumé and cover letter, and applied for your dream job. You ran the interview gauntlet, and you came away with an offer letter for a new job. Mission accomplished, right? Wrong!

The job offer is just the beginning—now you need to negotiate your salary.

Unless you’re going for a fixed-salary government job—or your potential employer’s salary offer is insanely low or high—then this is the time for you to put humility away and bravely ask for the pay you deserve.

Most hiring managers expect candidates to negotiate—in fact, it’s vital for you to start off on the right foot by asserting your self-worth upfront.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself so you’re ready before that great new job offer comes in.

When should I negotiate salary?

This may seem obvious, but it’s bad form to start dictating terms while you’re still in the interview process. There are two good reasons why it’s not to your benefit at that point: First, you don’t have any leverage until you’ve got the job. Second, you don’t know what they’re offering—and, more importantly, what they expect of you. With the knowledge of how demanding your new position will be, you’ll be in a much better position to determine what they should pay you. Take a breath, feel good about making it through, and then buckle down with your research before requesting another appointment to talk compensation.

Why not just take what they offer?

You’ve got value to the company that just hired you, or else they would have gone with someone else, right? So take the confidence they’ve placed in you as an invitation to request a salary commensurate with that value. If you’re just starting out, then you’re setting the earnings baseline for your entire career.

Why do I deserve more?

Think about what you’ve brought to previous companies. Have you met or exceeded expectations in an area that would impress your prospective employer? If so, then you’re worth more to them! Think about the advanced degrees, awards, specialized skills, and certifications you’ve earned. Even if your achievements are in a different industry, the fact that you’ve driven revenue and savings or improved processes with a measurable impact makes you more valuable than the average candidate. The keyword there is “measurable”—be ready to bring the numbers to the negotiating table (or the negotiating Zoom, as the case may be).

So what should I be earning?

You can get that answer right here—Cybercoders’ Salary Guide, which is constantly being updated with the latest stats. We cross-reference your job title with your location to give you an average salary range for that area. You’ll also see the top skills that your peers are listing on their résumés, what your salary might be in other locales, and—naturally—links to our database of vetted jobs in your profession.

What are other people in my profession making?

You might be surprised! Odds are they’re earning more than you think. This eye-opening article neatly summarizes a recent study revealing that when many people were asked what they thought their peers’ salaries are, they guessed low. The lesson is to not settle—you can probably ask for more. And if you’re ever dissatisfied where you are, you can be reasonably confident you’d get paid better elsewhere—hence the Great Resignation.

What else should I consider when asking for a higher salary?

If you’re moving to a new city, then you’ll have to pay moving expenses, including whatever it costs to sell or lease your former house or apartment. The cost of living might be higher there too. While negotiating, you can also bring up how much you’ll have to pay in commuting costs or upgrades to your home office if you’re working remotely. Anything work-related that cuts into your salary is fair game.

Finally, is it all about the money?

Nope—there are several other ways you can increase your net earnings. If your recruiter seems reluctant to offer you higher pay, they may be willing to give you stock options or equity. And don’t hesitate to explore other perks like additional vacation days, flexible hours, a hybrid remote/office arrangement to save on commuting, or a signing bonus. Other benefits you may be overlooking: your new company may be able to contribute toward repaying your student loans or even reimbursing you for your out-of-pocket insurance expenses until the company plan starts up. Be creative—you won’t know until you ask!