Early in my career, I didn’t even know it was possible to negotiate salary. So, when I was asked about my salary expectations for the first time, I gave them without hesitation. And you know what happened? I lowballed myself and left tens of thousands of dollars on the table. It wasn’t until I was recruited by another organization to perform similar duties that I realized how underpaid I was.
How to Respond to “What Are Your Salary Expectations?”
When asked about salary expectations, avoid saying a specific number or narrow range early on. Instead, express interest in the role, ask about the company’s budget or salary range and base your answer on market research and your experience level.
Discussing and negotiating salaries is often stressful for job seekers, but it doesn’t have to be. This article will help you answer questions about salary expectations, including what not to say when answering this question and sample language on what to say to help you maximize your pay.
Types of Questions About Salary Expectations
When interviewing for a new job, you might be asked to share your salary expectations. The question can be phrased in several different ways:
- What are your salary expectations (or requirements)?
- What is your desired salary?
- What kind of compensation are you looking for?
It’s important to know that salary and compensation refer to two different things. Generally, compensation refers to your base pay, stock options, benefits, job perks and other incentives; salary just refers to base pay.
To ensure you and the interviewer are on the same page, ask them to clarify their question. For example, you could say, “What makes up the company’s compensation package?” or, “Are you referring to total rewards or just base pay?”
Questions about your salary expectations may also be asked at different times during an interview process, including when:
- You’re submitting your information to an online job platform.
- You’re filling out a job application.
- You’re being interviewed for a job.
- You’ve been extended a job offer, but no salary has been communicated.
What to Do When Asked for Salary Expectations
When asked for your salary expectations, know that the company is trying to understand if their budget fits what you are looking for and/or is trying to set a salary negotiation anchor.
Before the Interview
Before the interview takes place, research jobs similar to the one you’re applying for and see if salary information is available. Visit online job forums to get a sense of what professionals with relevant job titles in your industry are being paid as well. If the company does share salary information in its job description, compare it to your findings. This way, you’ll be more prepared to answer the salary-expectation question when the interview arrives.
During the Interview
You don’t need to give a specific answer. In fact, doing so can hurt your short-term and long-term earnings.
Instead:
- Express gratitude for their interest.
- Leverage the moment to gather information about the company.
- Based on the interviewer’s response, determine if you want to move forward with the opportunity.
In the next section, we’ll go over some ideas of what to say.
How to Answer ‘What Are Your Salary Expectations?’ (With Examples)
The best time to discuss salary is after the employer has made you a job offer. This gives you leverage because the company has already expressed an interest in hiring you. It rarely happens that you’ll be offered a job and then asked for your salary expectations. Either way, be prepared to professionally answer the question.
Sample Response 1: Asking for More Role Information
“Thanks for your interest! I would like to find out more about the position and what it entails before discussing salary. What does a typical day and week look like in this role?”
In this response you:
- Express gratitude.
- Communicate that you don’t have the information you need to discuss salary.
- Leverage the opportunity to gather information about the job’s complete duties and responsibilities.
Sample Response 2: Asking About the Role’s Budget
“I appreciate your interest in me for this position! I am comfortable with a salary that is competitive for our industry for someone with my skills and experience. What is your budget for this role?”
In this response you:
- Express gratitude.
- Set an industry-standard salary expectation.
- Leverage the opportunity to ask the employer what their budget is for the role.
Sample Response 3: Asking How Salary Is Calculated
“I’m excited to learn more about the company and position. Thank you for your mutual interest! I think it’s important to align salary expectations with a company’s operational practices. How does the company calculate salary for each of its employees? What is the budget for this position?”
In this response you:
- Express gratitude.
- Leverage the opportunity to ask how the company calculates salary, which communicates an expectation to be compensated equitably.
- Leverage the opportunity to ask for the budget for the role to get a sense of whether or not considering the position makes sense for you.
Sample Response 4: Asking for an Industry-Standard Salary
“I’m very happy to be considered for this position. Thank you for your mutual interest. I am comfortable with an industry-standard salary for someone with my skills and experience. What is your budget for this role?”
In this response you:
- Express gratitude.
- Express that you are looking for an “industry-standard salary.”
Tips for Answering ‘What Are Your Salary Expectations?’
The way you answer “what are your salary expectations?” can influence your entire compensation package, so it’s essential to respond thoughtfully and strategically.
Here are a few tips to remember to navigate this question with confidence:
1. Start by Deflecting or Staying Vague (When Appropriate)
If the timing isn’t right, especially early in the interview process, it’s perfectly acceptable to keep your response broad or redirect the question. For example:
“I’d love to learn more about the role and responsibilities before discussing specific numbers. I’m confident we can find a number that works for both of us.”
This approach gives you time to gather more information about the role’s expectations, the company’s budget and benefits beyond salary, if needed.
2. Provide a Salary Range If You Need to Say an Amount
When it is the time to answer directly, offer a realistic salary range rather than a fixed number. This shows flexibility and opens the door for negotiation. The lower end of the range should be a figure you would still be satisfied with, while the higher end of the range should be ambitious but justifiable. For example:
“Based on my research and experience, I’m looking for a range between $85,000 and $100,000, depending on the overall compensation package.”
3. Aim for a Higher Salary Range (Within Reason)
Hiring managers often negotiate down from the first number you give out, so it is smart to anchor slightly higher than your ideal salary, as long as the number or range is justifiable. Be confident, but don’t overreach to the point of pricing yourself out of consideration.
4. Be Prepared to Justify Your Number
When asking for more money, you need to be able to explain why. Be ready to back up the salary range you provide with logical points like:
- Market data
- Your experience and skills
- Unique value you bring to the role
- Relevant certifications or achievements
For example:
“I’m basing my provided salary expectations on industry averages for this role in New York, plus my six years of experience managing high-impact projects.”
What Not to Say When Asked About Salary Expectations
Before we get into what mistakes to avoid, I feel it’s important to note that my view on this issue comes from my professional journey. Other people, especially recruiters or human resource managers, may disagree with my advice.
Now, let’s break down what not to say when asked about salary expectations:
1. Don’t Give a Specific Salary Amount
When you give a specific number, you limit your potential earnings by setting an anchor. Giving a number makes negotiating up substantially difficult.
What to Say If Asked About a Specific Salary Amount
If the interviewer asks how you feel about a specific salary number, respond honestly and professionally while keeping the door open for discussion. This shows you’re thoughtful and willing to engage in a conversation, not only a transaction.
For example:
“I feel that number is a bit below what I was expecting based on the role and market benchmarks, but I’m open to understanding the full compensation package and how it aligns with growth opportunities.”
2. Don’t Give a Narrow Salary Range
Typically, when you dodge giving a specific salary expectation number, you’ll be asked to give a range instead. By giving a range, though, you just create a broader anchor and give the employer the option to choose the lower end of your pay range, which still means less money for you.
As such, be sure the range you provide still works in your favor, and includes a lower end that meets your personal expectations.
3. Don’t Provide Your Current or Previous Salary
When you’re asked about salary expectations, you might attempt to dodge the question by providing your current salary or your salary history. Your current salary or salary history is irrelevant to the job you’re applying for, and you could give the employer an excuse not to pay you more. Therefore, avoid bringing it up.
What to Say If Asked About Your Current or Previous Salary
If the interviewer asks about your current or past salary in an interview, it’s often best to politely redirect the conversation toward your salary expectations instead. Keep the conversation focused on your future as an employee, not your past.
For example:
“I prefer to focus on the value I bring to this new role and what’s appropriate to the position, rather than my current compensation.”
How to Address Salary Expectations With Less or No Experience
Communicating that you’re looking for an industry-standard salary when you have no experience is perfectly acceptable.
With that said, the sample answers I provided are intended to help you maximize earnings. Some recruiters may ask for a specific value upfront. Although being pushed to give a specific answer can feel pressuring and like you need to answer immediately, remember that they want the number to help them perform their job function, not to help you negotiate maximum pay.
Lowballing yourself because you have no experience has negative short-term and long-term earning implications. No experience doesn’t mean the work you’ll perform once trained doesn’t have market value; it just means you’ll require a larger investment and more time to train to get to a productive level — so don’t sell yourself short on salary even with no experience.
How to Negotiate Salary Expectations Using AI
Artificial intelligence is quickly changing the job market, and one of its most practical applications for job seekers is in salary negotiation. With the help of AI and its research and simulation capabilities, candidates can approach salary expectation discussions with greater confidence.
Here’s how to leverage AI to strengthen your salary expectation conversation:
1. Benchmark Salaries With AI-Powered Tools
Before entering any salary negotiation, it’s important to understand the worth of your role and skillset in the current job market.
AI-driven platforms like Built In, Glassdoor and Levels.fyi analyze millions of data points — including job titles, locations and experience levels — to provide tailored salary estimates. AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude can also be asked to provide salary information based on specific roles and experience, but be sure to ask these tools specific questions and consult additional sources to ensure your salary expectation will be reasonable.
2. Simulate Negotiation Scenarios
Several AI platforms and chatbots can simulate salary discussions to help users practice what they will say in a real-life salary negotiation scenario. These tools can provide real-time feedback on your tone, language and confidence, as well as prepare candidates for common counter offers or pushback from employers, which can improve your delivery during the actual salary expectation discussion.
3. Craft Personalized Counter Offers
AI tools and writing assistants can help draft persuasive counter offer emails or talking points to reference in a real-life discussion. By incorporating data like industry benchmarks, specific accomplishments and cost-of-living adjustments, AI tools are able to tailor salary expectation messages to be assertive yet professional.
Why Are Candidates Asked About Salary Expectations?
A salary expectation is the amount of money you would like to earn in a year. This number can be expressed as an hourly wage, annual salary, or monthly salary. The two primary reasons potential employers ask about salary expectations are to:
- Verify if the position’s budget fits what you want in pay.
- Set an anchor for a salary negotiation.
When you answer a salary expectation question, you’re establishing a number, or anchor value, that a recruiter, hiring manager or human resources representative can use as a reference point to determine what salary to offer you.
To prevent receiving a low offer, you need to be thoughtful about what you say when asked for your salary expectations. Giving specific answers can limit both your short-term and long-term potential earnings. Once you give a number, negotiating up is not impossible, but can be very difficult.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you answer “Does this salary meet your expectations?”
If a salary offer doesn’t meet your expectations, avoid immediately agreeing. Instead, respond by asking for more details about the role — such as responsibilities or the company’s budget — and use that information to guide your negotiation.
What do you write for salary expectations?
When stating salary expectations in a job application, email or letter, consider writing terms like “negotiable,” “flexible” or “market rate.” This keeps the conversation open for discussion during the interview. Avoid listing a specific number or range, as it can limit your ability to negotiate later.
What is the best answer for “What are your salary expectations?”
Some of the best answers for the question, “What are your salary expectations?” include:
- Asking for additional role information (i.e. what a typical day or week at work looks like)
- Asking about the role’s budget
- Asking how the company calculates salaries for employees
- Asking for an industry-standard salary based on your role
How do you answer “What is your salary expectation?” when you have no experience?
Asking for an industry-standard salary or the budget for the role can be an effective answer when asked about your salary expectations as a candidate with no work experience.
