How To Answer "What Are Your Salary Requirements?" (2024)

Getting asked “What are your salary requirements?” or “What are your salary expectations?” in an interview can leave you feeling unsure of how to answer and maybe even you’ll feel awkward to answer. Your salary requirements should be based on your research of the pay rates for the job title and location and give a range that puts your target salary on the low end.

To help you feel more confident about answering questions regarding your compensation requirements, we’ll go over how to answer salary requirements questions, why employers ask about this, and some example answers for any scenario you may face.

Key Takeaways

• Do your research on what a reasonable salary range is, aim high, and express your flexibility when giving your salary requirements.

• Use ranges whenever possible when answering questions about what compensation are you seeking.

• Don’t lie about your past salaries — hiring managers can easily look them up.

How to answer “what are your salary requirements?”

To answer “What are your salary requirements?” you should first do your research, provide a range, and aim slightly higher than your actual minimum compensation requirement. Here are steps you should take when answering “What are your salary requirements?” in more detail:

1. Research similar positions salaries. Learn as much as you can about the position and compare salaries with other companies and similar job titles.

   Look for salary information on the company’s website and use online salary calculators like Payscale to factor in your cost of living.

2. Provide a range. After researching reasonable salaries, consider giving a salary range rather than a specific number.

   For example, you could say:

   “My salary requirement is in the $35,000 – $40,000 range.”

   Giving a range as your answer gives you some flexibility, while also keeping you from being offered too low of a salary or being kicked out of the hiring process for expecting too much.

3. Aim high. In your range, you should include as high of a salary as you can justify based on your education, experience, and skills.

   The trick is to put your target salary at the bottom of your range. For example, if you’d like to make $50,000, state your range as $50,000-$57,000. The employer is likely to offer you the lower end of that range, but anything more than the absolute bottom is just icing on the cake for you.

4. Leave room for negotiations. Let them know that your salary requirements are flexible and that you’re open to negotiating. This will help keep you in the running for the job and will help when negotiating if you end up getting a job offer.

   Stating that your requirements are flexible will give more you room for salary negotiations later on if you end up getting the job.

5. Provide a history if asked. If you’re asked to include your salary history, you could also list your previous salaries as ranges instead of giving a specific amount.

   However, if the employer gives specific instructions on how to include salary information, such as a specific dollar amount instead of a range, it’s best to follow the guidelines.

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6. Always be honest. If you lie about your salary history, your potential employer could easily check in with your previous employers. Lying is a good way to get screened out of the hiring process.

Example answers to “what are your salary requirements?” interview question

Let’s take a look at a few examples of different ways to answer this seemingly straightforward question during an interview:

1. Research-Based Example Answer

   Based on my salary research, I feel that an annual salary of between $39,000 and $45,000 is appropriate for someone with my experience. I am open to learning more about ABC Corp.’s salary expectations and included benefits for this position.

2. Skills-Focused Example Answer

   While certainly open to negotiation, a starting salary of $46,000 to $51,000 seems fair to me. I bring a unique blend of management, business, and customer service experience and skills to a position that requires all three, based on our conversations.

3. Other Benefits Example Answer

   I’ll open by saying that I’m impressed with the benefits package that your company offers. Still, as an experienced project manager, I expect a base salary of between $56,000-$60,000.

4. Delay (No Number) Example Answer

   At the moment, I’m focused on finding a position that fits my skill level and passion. Based on our conversation and my research of your company, I’m sure you can provide a competitive offer.

5. Delay (Salary Range) Example Answer

   My salary research indicated that a typical annual salary for an employee with my level of experience working in this position is between $67,000 and $72,000.

6. Being Flexible While Still Giving a Range Example Answer

   I am flexible for my compensation, but I am looking to receive between $50,000 and $55,000 annually. Due to my experience and skill level, I feel this is a comfortable and acceptable range.

7. Being Open to The Company’s Range Example Answer

   While I believe that a salary range between $70,000 and $75,000 is in line with the industry average and it is an accurate representation of my skills and experience, I am open to hearing more about the company’s compensation and salary expectations for this position.

8. Minimum Salary Requirements Example

While I am flexible about my salary, my minimum salary requirement that would reflect my experience and skill levels would be $50,000. While that is my minimum salary requirement, I am flexible with a range going up to $55,000.

What are salary requirements?

A salary requirement is the amount of money a person needs to be paid in order to accept a job offer. Some companies ask for people to include their salary requirements either with the application or in the cover letter.

Salary requirements depend on a few different factors such as:

• The industry.

• Your salary history.

• Your work experience.

• The cost of living in a specific area.

• Benefits packages.

Why do employers ask for your expected salary?

Employers ask for your salary requirements because they want to make sure your compensation expectations are within their allotted budget and they want to see how you assess your worth as an employee.

• They have a budget. The interviewer wants to make sure your compensation aligns with what they have already calculated for the position. If your salary requirements are too high, they may no longer consider you for the job because they don’t want to pay that much or think you won’t like working for less money.

  On the other hand, if you give a salary requirement that’s lower than what the company is willing to pay you, they might offer you a lower salary than you deserve.

• They want to see how you assess and communicate your worth. A good candidate knows what their skill set is worth. Factor in years of experience and any achievements to determine what range you should put.

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• They want to determine you’re if right for the position. If the asking salary is higher than the other candidates, there is a chance that the person is too qualified for the position, and they would need to go with someone else.

  On the other hand, if the salary is too low, the person might not be qualified enough for the position.

The key to answering this question is all about finding a good middle ground. You don’t want to sell yourself short, but you don’t want to make less than you deserve or get screened out of the hiring process.

Where and how to include salary information

Employers will often tell you where to mention your salary requirements and history — they’re usually included in your cover letter, in the application, or during an interview. If the employer asks for your salary requirements in a different way, follow their directions.

You can give your salary requirement in your cover letter by stating something along the lines of:

Try to keep your salary requirements brief, so that the employer can spend more time focusing on your cover letter and your application.

You want them to see why you’re a good fit for the job and deserve the salary requirements you give them, not that you’re a money-hungry psycho.

How to negotiate a higher salary

To negotiate a higher salary you need to do your research, state your case, and start with a higher number than you’d be willing to accept. Follow these tips when negotiating a higher salary:

• Start with a high number. Determine the highest reasonable salary you can justify and focus on that. As long as you state that your salary requirements are flexible and you can defend your request, there’s no risk of aiming high, and you’ll also show that you see yourself as a valuable employee.

  Giving a higher number gives you more room to negotiate if you get the job and you’re more likely to get what you want.

• Don’t sell yourself short. If you give a salary requirement that’s lower than what a prospective employer is willing to pay you, you could cheat yourself out of more money and come off as unprepared.

  Too low of a salary requirement could make potential employers see your flaws instead of your strengths.

• Be aggressive. Don’t be afraid to give a number that you think you deserve.

  People who make more aggressive offers for the highest number in their range are more likely to get what they want than people who focus on the minimum amount they’re willing to take.

• Be flexible. Take a lesson from your friendly neighborhood yogi and remember to be flexible.

  You might have to concede your first offer, but you’ll probably still get a good deal and your potential employer will be happy with the results.

  There’s little risk if you give them the highest number you can defend, but there’s a lot to lose if you’re too afraid to aim high.

  Finally, remember that there are several things that go into compensation, like benefits and opportunities for growth.

Salary requirement FAQ

1. Should you tell a company your salary expectations?

   Experts generally say to avoid stating your salary expectations at first. If the interviewer asks, be prepared to give an answer.

2. Is it OK to put negotiable for your salary requirements?

   Yes, it is OK to put negotiable for your salary requirements. The only disadvantage this might have is if you appear overqualified for the position and the recruiter might assume your salary expectations are too high.

3. How do you respond to salary requirements in an email?

   Answer your salary requirement in an email by citing the points you think are important to salary expectations. Keep a positive tone and try to keep it brief.

4. How do I decide my salary range?

   You decide your salary range by doing your research. This means finding out how much similar positions in the area are paid and how much others in the company are paid.

   Note the level of experience, skills, and education that each of these positions requires and how they compare to yours as well. Then, create a research-based range with your target salary at the bottom and note that it’s flexible or negotiable.

5. Can you decline a job because the salary is too low?

   Yes, you can decline a job offer because the salary offer was too low. When you decide to decline a job because of the low salary, make sure you are as polite as possible when explaining that you can’t accept because of the low range.

Final thoughts

Remember that even though compensation is important, this is not the most important part of your application or your interview. You want the employer to be able to spend a lot of time reading or hearing about your strengths and qualifications.

Don’t sell yourself short and let your employer know why you deserve to be paid the salary you require. Be willing to negotiate and justify your salary requirements.

Now that you know what to do — get out there and request a reasonable salary!

Tips from an expert

References

1. The New York Times – What Do You Think You Should Be Paid?

2. Salary.com – Make Fair Pay a Reality