How to Answer Salary Expectations Questions in an Interview

Key takeaways 

When you're asked about your salary expectations in an interview, there are certain strategies you can apply to make sure you don't leave money on the table.

• During the interview process, a recruiter or hiring manager may ask about your salary expectations to determine if they align with the range the company has in mind for the role.

• There are strategies you can employ to delay providing a concrete number because doing so may limit your earning potential if the company has a higher approved range.

• If you do have to state a range, conduct research on the market rate for the role you're interviewing for ahead of time so you have data to present the recruiter or hiring manager.

Explore how to answer the question around salary expectations. Afterward, build in-demand AI skills to increase your earning potential with the Google AI Professional Certificate.

How to discover your salary range

All labor has a value in the marketplace, which is further determined by experience, education, location, and industry. It’s important that you find a good salary that you feel positive about accepting and that will support your desired lifestyle. Your work has value and should be treated accordingly.

Increasingly, states are requiring companies to provide a stated range in job postings, so you know in advance whether it aligns with what you'd like to be earning. However, if you don't know what a role pays and are asked about your salary expectations during an initial phone screen, you'll want to have a range in mind.

• Salary range: This is the $10,000-range you’d be comfortable accepting at either the low, mid, or high end. For example: $65,000 to $75,000 or $105,000 to $115,000.

Your range will ideally encompass the three numbers below:

• Dream number: The absolute top-of-market rate for your experience level.

• Realistic target: The fair market midpoint aligned to your salary research.

• Walk-away minimum: Your baseline aka the minimum viable offer you'd be comfortable accepting.

How to research your desired salary

Prepare ahead of your interview by conducting market research on what similar titles in the industry pay for your level of experience. There are several tools designed to help you discover what similar titles earn, which you can further specify by inputting years of experience, education, and location.

• Job search sites: Indeed, Mosnter.com, and Glassdoor offer salary calculators.

• Salary sites: Payscale and Salary.com offer in-depth salary research tools.

• Benchmarking resources: The US Bureau of Labor Statistics provides median annual salary data by title.

You can also deepen your research by investigating “compensation trends” or “industry pay” to get a better idea of what your skill set is worth. Understanding what’s happening in various industries from a business perspective can help you determine a potential competitive salary. For example, if there’s a current tech skills gap, that means certain skill sets are in high demand and may command higher salaries as companies search for new employees who can fill crucial needs. 

Hidden variables for salary negotiation

Besides a job title, there are three other variables to take into account when determining your salary range.

• Cost of living: A remote role or an in-office position in a major metro area, such as New York or San Francisco, will carry a premium compared to smaller regional markets.

• Company size and funding: A Fortune 500 enterprise will often pay more than a Series A startup.

• High-demand skill premium: If you possess specialized technical skills, advanced certifications, or highly sought-after expertise, such as data privacy or advanced AI skills, you can reasonably target the upper quadrant of the market rate.

Strategies for answering, "What is your desired salary?" 

In the early stages of your interview process, you will likely be asked about your salary expectations. Even when directly asked, “What are your salary expectations?” experts generally advise against being the first to state a number.

In that case, let’s go over some ways to handle the question, “What are your salary expectations?” once it comes up during your interview: 

1. Provide a range.

During the interview process, a recruiter or hiring manager may ask about your salary expectations to determine if they align with the range the company has in mind for the role. As much as possible, hold off on sharing a specific number. Yes, you’ve likely done the research and know exactly what you want to get, but that’s key information you should keep private in the early stages of an interview. 

Instead, it’s better to provide a range because it shows you’re flexible while still giving you some control. Try to keep your range to around or under $10,000, for example, $62,000 to $72,000 or $83,500 to $89,500. 

Sample answers: 

• I’d be happy to discuss things more specifically as this interview process continues, but at the moment, I can share that I’m looking for a range between $74,000 and $84,000.

• Based on my experience and the market rate for this work, I’m looking for a range between $74,000 and $84,000. 

2. Reverse the question. 

One of the reasons candidates don’t like answering the question is that it gives employers more power. You can turn the recruiter’s or hiring manager’s question around by inquiring what their budget is for the role. That way, if you do provide an answer, it’s an informed one. 

Sample answers: 

• Thanks for asking. Based on the responsibilities you anticipate, what is the salary range for this role?

• Before I answer that, can you share the salary range for this role? 

3. Delay answering.

When you get this question early in an interview, it’s fair to delay answering until you have more details. At this point, the recruiter may have shared some of the responsibilities, but it won’t be until you spend additional time with the hiring manager that you’ll get a broader picture of the work. Explain that you’d like to wait until you have more information about the role before providing a range. 

Sample answers: 

• I’m really excited about this opportunity, but I’d prefer to hear more about the day-to-day responsibilities before giving a salary range.

• I’d appreciate hearing more about this role, what I would be responsible for doing, and the potential impact you hope I’d have before discussing my salary expectations.

• Can you share more about what this role would entail? I’d like to have a better idea before discussing potential salaries. 

4. Negotiate.

It’s important to negotiate your salary. Often, even if you’re asked to supply a number and aim to answer with a range instead of a specific amount, you should negotiate for more because companies expect it. In fact, nearly half of all employees negotiated their most recent job salary, according to a 2023 report by Glassdoor [1]. 

Generally, if you receive an offer from a company, they will give you a period of time to consider it and accept or decline. Use that time to craft a response. Find out more about how to negotiate your salary.

Other factors of an offer package to negotiate

There may be times when a company’s budget is firm, and they don’t have much flexibility regarding salary. When you’re interested in the role, you can ask to explore other options outside of salary, such as: 

• Vacation: If your company offers a set number of vacation days each year, can they increase the amount you get to offset the salary difference?

• Benefits: Are the benefits robust enough to negate the salary difference? If not, are there any additional benefits you can discuss?

• Stocks: Can they increase the amount of stock they offer (if they offer employees stock)?

How to ask about salary in an interview

If salary expectations don’t come up in your interview, you may be wondering how to broach the topic yourself. Understanding the salary expectations can help you determine if this role fits in with your expectations and whether to continue with the interview process. 

In most cases, these conversations are better over the phone and in person. You can open with questions about the role and responsibilities, showing a strong interest in the position. Once you’ve demonstrated interest and have captured the attention of the hiring manager, you can ask about the expected compensation for the role. Try to approach it in a general way, such as “how does the compensation for the position compare with market rates?”

Explore resources to strengthen your salary bargaining power 

As you’re considering a job or career change, subscribe to our LinkedIn newsletter, Career Chat, to stay current on salary trends in various industries. Or, explore free digital resources to guide you.

• Learn a new skill: How to Start Learning Data Analysis: Custom Course Guide

• Practice negotiation skills: Drive Win-Win Results with 9 Essential Negotiation Skills

• Hear from pros: Meet the Software Engineer Looking to Be a More Competitive Job Candidate

Whether you want to develop a new skill, get comfortable with an in-demand technology, or advance your abilities, keep growing with a Coursera Plus subscription. You’ll get access to over 10,000 flexible courses. 

Build job-ready skills with Coursera Plus

Start 7-day free trial

• 
• 
• 
• 

Start 7-day free trial