Negotiating Your Salary Over Email: 14 Effective Tips

Score a higher salary over email (and impress your new employers with your professionalism)

Co-authored by Shannon O'Brien, MA, EdM and Ali Garbacz

Last Updated: February 10, 2023 References

Asking About Starting Salary

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Negotiating a Higher Starting Salary

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Expert Q&A

If you’ve received a job interview or a job offer, you’re probably wondering how you’re supposed to bring up the topic of salary. One great thing is that, in many situations, you can now have this conversation over email, which can be a lot less intimidating than talking face-to-face. With a few simple strategies and phrases, you can discuss salary in an email effectively and professionally. After that, you’ll be on your way to starting an amazing new job.

Things You Should Know

Be direct but polite when asking about compensation, adding something like “May I ask what the salary range is?” after your initial greeting.
Look into average salary rates for similar positions in the industry and of people with similar backgrounds to yours in order to establish your personal salary range.
Maintain a professional tone throughout your emails, but be firm in negotiating your desired salary.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Asking About Starting Salary

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Begin your email with a greeting and end with your signature. Write emails for work the way you would a standard letter. In your salutation, use the name that the person emailing you signed off with in their message, or whatever name they used when they introduced themselves if you've already met in person.^{[1]
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Be polite but direct in asking about the starting salary. Show enthusiasm for the position. If the company has asked whether you're interested in the job, thank them for their message, state that the position does sound interesting, and then add "May I ask what the salary range is?"^{[2]
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Expert Source

Shannon O'Brien, MA, EdM
Life & Career Coach
Expert Interview. 25 May 2021.}^{[3]
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- If the company is reaching out to schedule a second interview, reply to the person who emailed you that you are excited to come back, then ask if they are the right person to speak to about compensation for this job.^{[4]
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Don't feel obliged to reveal your current salary. The company recruiter or hiring manager may ask what salary you're making at your current job rather than answer your inquiry about their salary offering directly. This is a lowballing tactic. They're hopeful that you'll disclose a salary lower than the amount they are willing to pay just so they can then offer you this same figure rather than the higher one they might otherwise have given.^{[5]
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- It is unethical—and in some cases illegal—for a company to ask about candidates' confidential information like current salary. This is a privacy violation.^{[6]
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- If a recruiter asks about your current salary, reply by stating the salary range you are focusing on in your job hunt and ask if this position falls in that range.^{[7]
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- If the company insists on knowing your current salary, you’re better off walking away from the job. They will likely not be good employers since they are behaving unethically.^{[8]
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Determine your personal salary range. It’s important to know both what your ideal target salary is and what your minimum acceptable salary is before learning the starting salary of the job. If the starting salary does not meet this minimum standard, consider not continuing with the interview process for this particular job.
- You might be asked what your target salary is before the starting salary is disclosed, which is another good reason to have your salary range prepared.
- Research will help you to determine your salary range. You can use websites like Glassdoor and Payscale to get a sense of what professionals with similar experience and education make in your field and region.^{[9]
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- Special skills, such as knowledge of specific computer programs, years of experience, and degree of education can make you a desirable candidate and might help you command a higher salary than average in your field.^{[10]
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Determine the starting salary before a second interview. If the starting salary is not advertised, you do not necessarily have to inquire what it is before deciding whether or not you might like the job. It’s perfectly acceptable to participate in an initial interview without knowing the salary. However, don't accept a second interview before determining what the starting salary is.^{[11]
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- Many companies don't disclose their salary range in job advertisements because they are hoping to find a candidate who is unaware of their own market worth and the average salary range in the field. That's why it's helpful to do your research before asking about salary.^{[12]
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Ask about starting salary in a reply email rather than a new one. When a company recruiter or the hiring manager emails you to ask about your interest in the position or to schedule a second interview, take this opportunity in your reply message to ask what the salary is.^{[13]
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- Another advantage to asking about salary in a reply message is that you don't have to think of a subject line of your own for the email.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Negotiating a Higher Starting Salary

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Negotiate salary over email to make sure your message is clear. If you've received a job offer, the time has come to negotiate your salary before you sign. Doing this via email is acceptable if you and your potential employer have previously been interacting through this medium, especially if the job offer itself was extended in an email. Using email gives you time to craft a coherent case for your counteroffer without becoming stressed and flustered.^{[14]
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- There are some disadvantages to negotiating salary via email. Some experts believe that negotiation is better done face-to-face, and that an email can read more like a list of demands than a dialogue between employer and employee.^{[15]
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Avoid mentioning the word "salary" in your email subject line. A subject line such as “Salary negotiation” can come off as a bit blunt and pushy. One way to work around this is to use the word “offer” instead, since your goal is to negotiate your salary. Include your name and the role you’re applying for in the subject line as well. An example would be:^{[16]
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- John Doe - Thoughts on previous offer [Social Media Manager]
- Jane Doe - Responding to offer [SEO Consultant]
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Use an appropriate salutation. Always use a greeting in your email correspondence with your potential employer, the way you would if you were writing a letter. The correct greeting depends on the context of your previous interactions with the recipient.^{[17]
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- If your communications have been formal so far, address the email with "Dear" followed by the recipient's prefix (Dr., Mr., Ms., etc) and last name, then a comma and a line break before beginning your message.^{[18]
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- If you're unsure of your recipient's preferred prefix, for example Mrs. or Ms., simply write out their entire name with no prefix.^{[19]
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- If your interactions have been more informal, consider replacing "Dear" with "Hello" or "Hi" and using the recipient's first name.^{[20]
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Strike a respectful and polite tone. When negotiating your salary, take the time to express your genuine gratitude about the job offer and excitement for the position. Start your email by thanking the recipient and stating that you are excited about the opportunity.^{[21]
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- Remember to always use good email etiquette. Use complete, grammatically-correct sentences and to proofread your email for typos in order to convey your professionalism. Never use emojis or abbreviations like "LOL" like you would in text messages.
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Be firm but not combative in stating your counteroffer. State your desired salary, but use softer language to lead up to your suggestion. For example, instead of saying “I would like a starting salary of $60,000 a year,” say something like “I think $60,000 is a good amount to settle on.”^{[22]
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- Don't use phrases like "Are you sure you can't do any better?" This leaves the company room to simply reply no. When you give an actual counteroffer, you're making the company respond to that specific amount and making it more difficult for them to say no outright.^{[23]
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- Avoid using an argumentative or pushy tone. Making an aggressive statement like "I will not accept anything less than $60,000" is ineffective.^{[24]
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Back up your counteroffer with research. Clearly and politely list the reasons that justify the salary you’re asking for. Draw on the research you've done into average salaries in your field and for people with your background and skills to bolster your case.^{[25]
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- For example, after listing the qualifications that will make you an excellent employee for the company, you might say, “Based on my research, the average salary for comparable positions in this location is around $55,000. If possible, I would like to discuss moving the proposed salary closer to that figure.”^{[26]
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- Base your justification for your desired salary on your skills and the average salary range for this position. Don't build your case on arguments about how you personally need a higher salary to be able to pay your bills.^{[27]
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Sign off respectfully. End your email with a polite closing remark like "Sincerely" or "Best," followed by a comma, and then your signature on the following line. Keep your method of signing emails consistent in all your communications with the company so that there is no confusion. If you've been using your full name in your signature, continue to do so.^{[28]
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Be prepared for counteroffers. Salary negotiations are a back and forth process and can take some time. Remain patient, polite, and professional throughout. Bear in mind that you might not get the exact salary you ask for, though you should not agree to go below the minimum acceptable amount you've decided for your range.^{[29]
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- Even if you begin negotiating your salary over email, you might end up discussing it over the phone at some point in the process.^{[30]
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Expert Q&A

Question

How do I ask about salary before an interview?

Shannon O'Brien, MA, EdM
Life & Career Coach
Shannon O'Brien is the Founder and Principal Advisor of Whole U. (a career and life strategy consultancy based in Boston, MA). Through advising, workshops and e-learning Whole U. empowers people to pursue their life's work and live a balanced, purposeful life. Shannon has been ranked as the #1 Career Coach and #1 Life Coach in Boston, MA by Yelp reviewers. She has been featured on Boston.com, Boldfacers, and the UR Business Network. She received a Master's of Technology, Innovation, & Education from Harvard University.

Shannon O'Brien, MA, EdM

Life & Career Coach

Expert Answer

Send an email to the recruiter or HR department and politely ask them about the salary range for the position.
Question

How can I ask for a breakdown of the offered benefits after receiving a job offer?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Start your email by thanking them for the job offer, then lead into your question about benefits. For example, "Thank you so much for offering me this position. To help with my decision, I was wondering if you could possibly provide more information about the benefits this position offers?" You can then ask specific questions about certain aspects of the benefits package or whatever other questions you may have.
Question

I'm a lab assistant and want to write to my instructors asking about a stipend that was advertised but hasn't been mentioned since I've started here.

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

An important thing here is that you bring evidence of a stipend being promised for your position. If you have the job advertisement saved that mentions a stipend, or any other document that specifically mentions a stipend for you position, point this out in your email. For example, "In the job advertisement, it was mentioned that a stipend would be provided for lab assistants. I just wanted to clarify that this is true and ask when and how this stipend will be given out."