Most candidates accept the first offer. Those who negotiate get an average of $5,000 more — and many get significantly more. A 15-minute conversation can change your earnings for years. Here's how to approach it.
Know your number before the conversation
Use Levels.fyi, Glassdoor, and LinkedIn Salary to find the market range for your role, level, and location. Have three numbers ready: your "walk away" minimum, your target, and your "stretch" ask.
Never share your current salary first
If asked, deflect: "I'd rather focus on what the role is worth in the market — what range did you have in mind?" This puts the ball back in their court.
The phrase that works
When you get the offer: "I'm really excited about this role. Based on my research and experience, I was hoping we could get to [X]. Is there flexibility there?" Then stay silent. Whoever speaks first loses leverage.
Negotiate the whole package
Base salary isn't the only lever. You can also negotiate: signing bonus, equity grant, equity vesting schedule, PTO, remote work allowance, professional development budget, relocation, and start date.
Get the offer in writing before signing
Verbal offers are commitments to negotiate, not commitments to hire. Always get the final terms in a written offer letter before resigning your current job.
Handling counteroffers from your current employer
Be cautious. Studies show 80% of people who accept a counteroffer are gone within a year. If money was the only reason you were leaving, a counter might be fine. If it wasn't, the underlying issues will resurface.
