8 Salary Negotiation Tips for 2025
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Negotiating your salary can feel intimidating. In this article, you’ll learn how to negotiate your salary with your current employer or for a new job offer. Find helpful salary negotiation tips, negotiation scripts, and email examples to help you strike a confident tone.
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3 Ways to Prep for Your Salary Negotiation
The basis for a successful negotiation is research and strategy. Your goal is to justify the value you bring to the company and the compensation you deserve.
Let’s break down five techniques to prepare you for your next salary negotiation:
1. Research the job market to calculate your value.
Effective negotiation starts with research. Here’s how to set realistic expectations before you negotiate salary with a current or future employer.
- Check online salary data for similar roles. Visit government websites like the Bureau of Labor Statistics or salary calculators like Glassdoor.
- Narrow your research to your job title, work experience, and average local wages.
- Decide on a realistic salary range. Determine this number by calculating your ideal pay and the minimum you can accept.
Setting a defined salary range will make it easier to counter during salary negotiations and know when to step away from the talks.
2. Go in confident and prepared.
Prepare to put a spotlight on your expertise.
- Bring in a list of your valuable contributions.
- Use quantifiable metrics, data, and statistics to confirm where you contributed to company growth.
- Ask to practice with a trusted friend or colleague.
This will help you feel comfortable describing your key achievements during salary negotiations. You should also kick off negotiations with a confident introduction.
Here’s a simple way to start your salary negotiation:
“I’m very excited about being part of the team and want to thank you for the opportunity. I feel I offer a unique value to your company with my advertising skills. In my prior position, I doubled the company’s revenue with an ad campaign that generated $15,000 of additional revenue. I was hoping we could discuss my compensation. Based on my experience, the salary range for this role is between $45,000 and $50,000.”
This kind of phrasing helps show that you are realistic about what to expect and showcases your strengths.
3. Be flexible.
Remember, salary negotiations rarely end at the first number. Keep the following in mind and end with a reasonable number.
- Start your negotiations 10-15% above your desired number.
- Calculate the value of alternate benefits like 401k match, student loan contributions or utility stipends. These benefits can help you meet your salary expectations.
4 Salary Negotiation Email and Script Examples
Whether you are a first-time job seeker or a seasoned professional, these strategies will help you maximize your earning potential and confidently navigate salary discussions. Let’s go over the most common situations where you’ll negotiate your salary: asking for a raise, negotiating a job offer, and entering the job market.
How to negotiate a higher salary on a job offer.
If you get an offer for the perfect job, but the salary is lower than expected, don’t hesitate to negotiate! The job offer proves that you’re the top candidate for the job, which gives you leverage in the salary negotiation.
Compare the offer to industry standards and your experience level. If it’s low, ask for a higher salary or better benefits like paid time off or bonuses.
Wait until you have a formal offer before negotiating, ideally within 48 hours. Research salary trends using sources like the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and be ready to explain why you deserve more — highlight your skills, certifications, and past achievements.
If the offer is still low, confidently make a counteroffer backed by this competitive salary information and your key qualifications.
Here’s how you can approach the salary negotiation:
“I’m eager to join your team and feel qualified for this position. I bring a lot of value to the table based on my experience, and my market research shows the salary ranges from $60,000 to $75,000 for this position. Can we explore a slightly higher starting salary of $65,000? I’m confident you’ll be pleased with how much I can contribute to the company’s success.”
How to ask for a raise.
Salary negotiations aren’t limited to new jobs — you can ask for a raise with your current employer. Here’s how to open the conversation with your employer and get the raise.
- Check the calendar — most employers budget raises around annual reviews.
- Start preparing your information two months before your review. Gather concrete examples of your achievements that helped the company.
- Practice your pitch out loud or with a friend, then schedule a meeting with your employer when you’re fully prepared.
- Reach out to your manager a month before your review for a meeting where you can present your reasoning for a raise. This gives them time to process a raise along with your review.
If a raise isn’t possible for external reasons, like a market downturn or reduced budget, decide what alternate benefits, like extra vacation time or better health coverage, can help you meet your salary expectations.
Here’s an example of how to start salary negotiations at your job:
”I am passionate about my job and truly enjoy working as an office manager. In the last year, I’ve felt that the scope of my work has expanded significantly. I have spent these last three years learning analytics and auditing, and I’ve addressed risks and saved the company $12,000 annually. I have also exceeded the company’s financial standards, with a revenue increase of 11%. Therefore, I’d like to discuss a salary raise to match the industry standard for my role and the skills I have acquired since being hired. I’m requesting for my salary to be raised to $55,000.”
Recent college graduates or entry-level candidates
Negotiating your first salary can be intimidating, but knowing your worth is essential. Follow these steps to get the best offer:
- Check salaries for similar roles in your location and industry, not just the national average.
- As a young graduate, keep salary expectations realistic. Use sites like Glassdoor or Payscale to find realistic salary ranges.
- Start at the top of your range so you have room to negotiate. If needed, be flexible with benefits like extra time off or bonuses.
- Highlight how your skills and education match what the company needs. Mention your degree, certifications, and any relevant leadership or volunteer experience.
Here’s an example of how to open salary negotiations for your first job:
“I am excited to join your company. Your salary is $40,000, and I would like to know whether you would consider paying 20% more. My credentials and qualifications as a certified interpreter will contribute to a faster and improved service. I am willing to take on transcribing court and legal contracts.”
As an entry-level employee, you won’t make as much as a director or an executive. But you can bring value to the company; if you can negotiate that, you can get the pay you’re worth.
How to write a salary negotiation email.
A well-crafted email keeps negotiations smooth and professional! An email can also help you create a written record of your salary discussions. Here’s how to open negotiations via email.
- Start by thanking the employer for the job offer and expressing enthusiasm for the role.
- Get to the point quickly—state your counteroffer confidently without over-explaining.
- Mention salary benchmarks or relevant skills that justify your request.
- Show willingness to discuss and keep the conversation open.
Subject: Salary Discussion – [Your Name]
Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],
Thank you for the offer! I’m excited about the opportunity. Based on my experience and market research, I’d like to discuss a salary of [$XX,XXX]. I’m confident my skills will bring value to the team. Can we explore this?
Looking forward to your thoughts.
Best,
[Your Name]
Here’s 5 Key Salary Negotiation Tips
To be effective during your salary negotiation, there are several strategies that you have to master, starting with the power of likability and how to read the person with whom you are negotiating. This is a critical step to increasing your salary.
1. Be likable.
People are more likely to help if they like you! Here’s how to use valuable communication skills to strike a polite and confident tone.
- Use respectful communication, including tone and body language.
- Use action verbs and industry terms to highlight your impact.
- Share stats and achievements to justify your salary request.
- Don’t just ask — prove why you deserve more.
2. Read the person negotiating with you.
Take the time to research the person to whom you’ll be speaking. Look up their LinkedIn profile or social media feeds.
Knowing their background will give you a better sense of their personality and what motivates them.
Always make eye contact and focus on what they have to say. Being a good listener can give you a deeper insight into what the employer expects from you and whether they can afford a salary increase. It will also help you figure out where they’re flexible and where they’re not.
Showing that you’re an active listener will also make you seem likable, which will make the person more likely to work with you to reach an agreement.
3. Answer tough questions with transparency.
Be ready ahead of time for any difficult questions that may come up. This will help avoid awkward silences or stumbling for words.
You may be asked about your commitment to the company, alternate job offers, or if they are your top choice. If you’re committed to your employer, you can honestly mention an open job offer but share that your current employment is your top choice.
However, you don’t need to share alternate employment opportunities if you don’t want to. Go into salary negotiations with a confident breakdown of your accomplishments. This should be enough to start a reasonable discussion.
4. Don’t try to manipulate.
Never manipulate. It doesn’t work because it’s not respectful. You will rub people the wrong way, and can limit your ability to negotiate with the company later throughout your career.
No one wants to work with someone pushy or manipulative! They’d much rather pay someone agreeable.
People don’t like being told, “Do this or else.” This will make the employer feel manipulated, and it comes off the wrong way.
5. Remember, salary negotiations aren’t personal.
If the employer decides not to give you the salary increase, don’t take it personally.
An employer may be limited by financial or other resources to meet your demands; it’s as simple as that.
Your attitude can impact the employer’s decision positively or negatively.
Also, if you don’t hear back from the company immediately, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you won’t get the salary increase. A formal offer often requires procedures and processes involving several departments, such as HR or finance.
Always follow up. Stay in touch and be patient.
Key Takeaways
Here are five points you should remember when negotiating your salary.
- Know the market rate for your role, industry, and location using sources like Glassdoor, Payscale, or the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Let employers make the first offer. This will help you avoid accidentally lowballing yourself.
- Use data and examples to show how your skills and experience benefit the company. Mention certifications, achievements, or unique qualifications.
- Stay firm on your salary expectations, but consider perks like bonuses, remote work, or extra vacation days if employers are firm on salary limits.
- Once you agree on a salary, request a written offer to confirm all details, including benefits and compensation.
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Ultimate Guide to Negotiating Your Salary
Last edited by: Gabriela Barcenas, CPRW, Content Writer II - February 11, 2025
Gabriela Barcenas
CPRW, Content Writer IIGabriela is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and career adviser. With 10 years of digital media experience and five years of resume writing expertise, her publication history includes fashion, education, travel, social justice, equitable design, and career advice.
