How to Negotiate a Salary Based on the Salary Range

Negotiate from a position of strength.

Landing a job offer is only half the battle. The other half is making sure you get the salary you deserve for all your hard work. It may be possible to negotiate a higher salary than the one you were initially offered, even in a tough job market. Successfully negotiating a higher salary depends on a number of factors, including the value of the skills you hold, your experience level in the industry and your negotiating skills.

Instructions

1. Find the exact title for the job you are being offered. Look up the salary range for that job title at a reliable source like the Bureau of Labor Statistics website. Be careful about using sites that use self-reported salary information. Those sites are not always reliable, and employers may not take the data they present seriously.

2. Write down a list of your past accomplishments in similar positions during your career. A history of top performance can help you justify the demand for a higher salary.

3. Point out any special training and certifications you hold in your chosen field, especially if those certifications are prestigious and in high demand. For instance, if you are accepting a position in the IT field, a certification from Cisco or Microsoft corp. may help you justify your higher salary demand.

4. Start negotiating with a salary offer higher than the one you are actually willing to accept. Starting on the high end of the salary range gives you more room to negotiate with the hiring manager

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Median Weekly Earnings
• Virginia Tech: Salary Questions and Negotiating