How to negotiate your salary

Research what your role pays where you live, then answer an offer with a specific number a little above what you want, backed by that research. Employers expect a counteroffer, and a raise you win at the start grows with every percentage raise after it.

The best time is before you accept

Once you say yes, you have little to bargain with. The window between an offer and your acceptance is when an employer most wants to close the deal, so that is when you ask.

Data beats feelings

The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wages for about 830 occupations by state and metro area, including the middle and upper ranges. Job posts with pay ranges and offers from other employers are just as useful.

A raise is taxed at your top rate

Extra salary is taxed at your marginal rate plus 7.65% for Social Security and Medicare. Moving into a higher bracket only affects the dollars above the line, never your whole salary.

Base pay drives other money

Your 401(k) match, bonus targets and future raises are usually a percentage of base salary. That makes $1 of base pay worth more than $1 of a one-time bonus.

Find your number

Start with the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data. Search your job title and your metro area to see the median and the range. The Occupational Outlook Handbook gives a national median for each job and explains what the work involves.

Then check real job posts for similar roles. Many states and cities now require employers to list a pay range, which tells you what a company has budgeted. If you have another offer, that is the strongest data of all.

Pick three numbers before any call: the pay you'd be thrilled with, the pay you'd happily accept, and the lowest you'd take before walking away. Your counter is usually the first one.

What to say

Keep it short and warm. A script that works: "Thank you, I'm excited about this role. Based on what similar roles pay in this area and the experience I bring with this kind of project, I was expecting something closer to $68,000. Is there flexibility on the base salary?"

Then stop talking. Silence feels long, but it gives the other person room to respond. If they say they need to check, that is a good sign. If they come back with a number in between, you can accept, or ask about one more item like a signing bonus.

Negotiating a raise at your current job

Ask before budgets are set, often a few months before annual reviews. Bring a short list of results with numbers: money saved, projects finished, customers kept, work you took on beyond your role. Add the market data for your job.

Ask for a specific amount or percentage. If the answer is no, ask what you would need to show to get there, and agree on a date to talk again. Write down what they said and follow up by email.

When the answer is no

Sometimes salary bands are fixed, especially in government and large companies. In that case, ask about things outside the band: a higher starting step, a signing bonus, extra paid leave, a flexible schedule, or a set date for a pay review.

A firm no on a fair offer is still useful information. You can accept knowing you asked, or keep looking. Compare offers on their full value, including benefits, not just the salary line.

What the extra money is really worth

Extra salary is taxed at your highest bracket, not your average rate. For a single filer in the 12% bracket, which covers taxable income up to $50,400 in 2026, each extra $1,000 adds $1,000 − $120 − $76.50 = $803.50 to take-home pay, before any state tax.

Even after tax, the raise compounds. Each later raise is a percentage of a bigger base, and a 401(k) match grows too. That is why a few minutes of negotiation at the start can be worth more than years of small annual raises.