In this guide
Interviews and salary conversations
How to negotiate salary after a job offer
Prepare evidence, make one clear and polite ask, consider the whole package and know when to accept. Includes wording you can adapt for a call or email.
Before you reply
Prepare these first
- The full offer in writing: base pay, bonus, pension, leave, hours, location and start date.
- Your researched range for similar roles, from adverts and pay surveys for your area and sector.
- The lowest total package you would accept, and why.
- One or two reasons the employer should move: experience above the advert, a specialist skill, a competing offer you are genuinely considering.
- Which non-pay terms matter most to you.
Make one clear ask
Ask for one specific figure or one specific change, give your reason in a sentence, and stop talking. Asking for a number slightly above what you would accept leaves room to meet in the middle, but it must be a number you can justify.
Thank you for the offer. I'm very keen to join the team. Based on my experience leading [the relevant work] and what similar roles in [area or sector] are paying, I was hoping for a base salary of [your figure]. Is there flexibility to get closer to that?
If salary cannot move
| Term | Example request |
|---|---|
| Start date | A later start to serve notice or take a break |
| Pay review | A review after probation, agreed in writing |
| Leave | Additional days, or honouring pre-booked holiday |
| Flexibility | Agreed remote days or compressed hours |
| Development | Funding for a course or qualification |
| Title or scope | A title that reflects the responsibilities |
Some employers, particularly in the public sector, use fixed pay scales. The starting point on the scale may still be negotiable if your experience justifies it, so ask how starting points are decided.
Accepting, and getting it in writing
Once you agree, ask for the revised terms in writing before you resign from your current job. Verbal promises about future reviews or bonuses are easily forgotten when managers change.
Common questions
Can negotiating lead to an offer being withdrawn?
It is uncommon when the request is reasonable and polite. Demands, ultimatums or repeated rounds of asking carry more risk.
Should I negotiate by email or by phone?
Either works. A call lets you hear the response; an email lets you choose your words. Many people call and then confirm by email.
Put it into practice
Prepare with interview practiceDrafted with AI assistance and checked against Luceria’s editorial standards. Examples are illustrative, not real people’s results. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.