What are your salary expectations?

Research

Before going into the interview, do some research on the market salary range for your position. You can look for actual data about your job on websites such as Indeed Salaries and Glassdoor.

It might not seem like a part of a job search, but you do want to ask about salary, or perhaps be ready for salary negotiation as a part of the interview process.

This analysis of what real people are getting paid to do your job will also give you an idea of what salary you are comfortable with. What offer will convince you to accept the job right on the spot? What offer will make you walk away?

Job candidates need to be able to answer this question: What is a fair salary?
Salary expectations are a important to address, and there are a few ways to keep your salary expectation in line with the job market.

The size of the company and its geographic location will likely determine how high or low the job falls in that range. For example, the salary for a job in Nashville, Tennessee may be different from the same job located in New York City. Cities have different costs of living. As a result, the salary requirements will vary. Furthermore, a small business will likely not be able to pay as much as a Fortune 500 company.

Finally, the hiring manager likely has an offer maximum. Your skills, experience, and how you negotiate will place you as close as possible to that magic number. Getting the salary expectation right will help you earn the most you can.

If employers ask directly about salary expectations, don’t deflect the question. Your expectations matter, have salary expectations that make sense. You don’t need to tell the interviewer your salary expectation right away, more on that below.

Knowing the market salary for the position is vital. You do not want to aim too high that the company feels that they cannot afford you. On the other hand, if you aim too low, your interviewer may offer you even less. Remember, these are salary negotiations with a give and take.

Delay

First, hold off answering the question about your salary. Instead, ask for more information about specific job expectations and responsibilities. This tactic can buy you time to reflect on the position and even learn some new aspects of the job. Then, you can decide whether your answer will be at the higher range or the lower range of your research estimates.

Offer a Range

When answering the salary question, offer a range first before specific numbers. Expectations matter, so try to keep the range with a variance of no more than $5,000, even if your research had a range of $10,000. For example, if the market salary for your position is between $50,000 and $60,000, your answer should be $55,000 to $60,000. A range is also beneficial to see how your potential employer will respond, before further negotiations.

Always be comfortable with the numbers you give out for your expectations. Once you say your salary range, it will be extremely difficult to negotiate a higher compensation after the fact.

Don’t forget that salary is not simply a number. The offer you receive may include bonuses, health benefits, and stock options. If you value extra vacation days or the ability to do some remote work, mention it. If your initial salary range was out of their budget, your employer may see this wiggle room and offer you a lower salary with more attractive benefits.

Be Confident

Be confident in your answer and self-worth. Most of us are open to negotiation. However, don’t sell yourself short in order to attempt to fast track your job application. By low balling your salary, your hiring manager may question if you truly know the industry and the quality of your job performance. You may end up unhappy with the compensation package or the company may bypass your application altogether.

Additionally, you may decide to offer a brief explanation as to why you think you deserve your salary request. Highlight your skills and experience before saying any numbers. Remind the interviewer of how you will add value to the company and that they want to have you on their team by compensating you fairly.