How to Negotiate Your Salary

Many people accept the first salary they are offered simply because negotiating feels awkward. Yet employers usually expect some discussion, and a polite, well-prepared request is rarely held against you. Whether you are weighing a new job offer or asking for a raise in your current role, the same principles apply.

Know Your Number Before You Talk

1. Research the market rate for the role in your area. Look at salary comparison websites, job adverts that list pay ranges, government or industry salary surveys and recruiters’ guides.
2. Talk to people in similar roles or professional groups if you can. Even rough ranges help.
3. Set three figures: your ideal target, a realistic figure you would be happy with, and the lowest you would accept before walking away.
4. List your value. Write down specific skills, qualifications and results that justify the higher end of the range.

Choose the Right Moment

For a new job, the best time to negotiate is after you receive an offer but before you accept it. At that point the employer has decided they want you. If you are asked for your salary expectations early in the process, you can give a researched range or say you would like to learn more about the role first.

For a raise, timing matters too. Good moments include your performance review, after completing a major project, or when your responsibilities have clearly grown. Request a dedicated meeting rather than raising it in passing, and bring a short written summary of your achievements to guide the discussion.

What to Say

Start positively, make a clear request, and then stop talking. For example: “Thank you, I’m excited about this role and keen to join the team. Based on my research and the experience I’d bring in project management, I was hoping for a salary closer to [your target]. Is there flexibility there?”

• Use a specific figure rather than a vague “a bit more”.
• Focus on your value and the market rate, not personal expenses.
• Stay calm during any silence; it is part of the process.
• Ask for time to consider the response if you need it.
• Practise the conversation out loud beforehand, ideally with a friend playing the manager, so the words feel natural rather than rehearsed.

Look Beyond the Base Salary

If the employer genuinely cannot move on pay, other parts of the package may be negotiable:

• Extra annual leave or flexible hours.
• Remote or hybrid working arrangements.
• A sign-on bonus or an earlier salary review.
• A training budget or support with professional qualifications.
• A better job title or clearer progression path.

Closing the Deal Gracefully

Whatever the outcome, stay polite and appreciative. If you reach an agreement, ask for the final terms in writing before you resign from your current job or formally accept. If the answer is no, ask what you would need to achieve to revisit the conversation in six months. Negotiating respectfully shows confidence, and that is a quality most employers value.