How To Answer “What Are Your Salary Expectations?” (With Examples)

You’ve finally made it through your interview. Everything is running smoothly until it all comes to a screeching halt.

The dreaded question is asked “What are your salary expectations?” It can be stressful to answer but with preparation and research, the stress can ease.

Here you’ll learn more about why interviewers ask this question and how to best handle the situation.

Key Takeaways

• This question can feel awkward and uncomfortable, and even feel as though it is a trick question, but it is an important question to answer.

• Hiring managers can tell a lot about a person by how they answer this question.

• Being prepared and ready to answer this question can help ease some stress in an interview.

Why Interviewers Ask About Salary Expectations?

When you’re put into this situation, keep in mind that the interviewer is simply trying to get a glimpse of how you value yourself.

• Their company already has a set budget. Remember that business is all about supply and demand. An interviewer can determine whether the set budget for this position is too high or too low based on this question alone.

• The interviewer can determine your level of experience. For example, you say a salary that is considered to be on the lower end of the spectrum, a hiring manager might mistake you for being a novice and think that perhaps you need to gain a little more experience before you can be considered for the job.

  On the other hand, if you choose a significantly higher than average salary, chances are they might think you are not on the right level required for this particular job and are overqualified.

• They want to see if you know your own value. An applicant who has a good understanding of their skills and qualifications will execute any job with tremendous confidence.

Remember to ask for a salary based on your level of work, experience, and skills. Keep in mind that an interviewer will know the appropriate amount to pay an employee for the role they are applying to.

How to Answer “What Are Your Salary Expectations”

Understandably, you might find yourself feeling overwhelmed by the idea of having questions in regards to your salary expectations. You don’t necessarily need to answer this question right away. Let the interviewer know that you would first like to go over the position even though you are interested in discussing salary.

1. Research the role. Make sure you have a complete grasp of the responsibilities. Your first instinct may be to use an online search engine. This will result in multiple web pages showing you the average salary for your chosen profession. However, some might find this to be overwhelming.

   Start by looking into our very own career research page on Zippia. This page will help you explore the job market more efficiently. It offers you the opportunity to find your desired position, what salary is the best suited for it, how to tailor your resume, the skills that would be ideal for this role, and more.

2. Factor in expenses. Think of cost of living in a location and how much you need to set aside. How much will gas cost? Will you need to buy a car or use public transportation?

   You must always remember that location plays a key role, as the old saying goes, “location, location, location.” For example, an anesthesiologist’s average salary from Nevada may be slightly lower than one you can find in New York. This can also be determined by looking at the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

3. Choose a salary range. After doing your research on the position and location, pick a range in which you would like the salary to fall. Keep the range tighter, such as $50,000 to $56,000.

   Give a range between $5,000-$10,000 to allow for some negotiation. Make sure that the lower number is still a bit higher than the lowest you’d be willing to accept.

4. Deflect the question. You can always take a moment and delay answering this question until the very end of the interview, or even after the interview. That way, you will have ample time to think about how to answer it while telling them about your skills, qualifications and why you would make an ideal candidate.

   Another alternative is to turn the tables and ask the interviewer to share what they have in mind regarding your salary. Once you have a particular number in mind, ask the hiring manager what the company is willing to answer. By doing this, you can take the pressure off you and put it back on them.

5. Be open to negotiation options. There are other ways to be compensated by an employer. If the salary isn’t exactly what you had in mind, consider other benefits they are offering. This could include health benefits, paid time off/vacation days, relocation costs or even equity in the company.

Example Answers to “What Are Your Salary Expectations”

You can also add that you are open to negotiations, never close the door on an opportunity. If, for any reason, they do not initially see eye to eye with you, let them know that you have gone into the interview with an open mind and are willing to talk numbers.

How To Answer The Salary Expectation Via Email

Because of the current pandemic, doing business from home has become a common practice. Hiring managers are now turning to the world of telecommunication to carry out business meetings and even virtual interviews.

Some aspects of the business may even take place via email. Hiring managers might prefer to ask you to answer your salary expectations through electronic correspondence because of their busy schedules.

Here are a few examples that can help you determine which is the best way to answer your salary expectations.

Tips for Answering “What Are Your Salary Expectations”

Here are some tips for successfully discussing your salary expectations:

1. Research salary data. We can’t stress this one enough — if you don’t know relevant salary data, you’ll be at a serious disadvantage during this conversation. Don’t forget to take your education, experience, and location into account when you’re researching.

2. Be flexible (and vague). If you want to deflect this question temporarily or permanently, you can simply say that you expect a salary commensurate with your experience ad skill set.

   It’s not a bad answer, it shows that you trust the company to accurately define “competitive pay.” If they can’t, then they may not be worth your time anyway.

3. Use your current salary. When you’re switching jobs, you should always look for a pay bump (unless you’re shifting your career wildly and are starting from a lower level). Of course, location also comes into play, so you may have to accept less money if you’re moving somewhere with a lower cost of living.

   Still, if possible, aim to give yourself a 10% raise from your current salary, or more, if you’re also getting a significant step up in responsibility.

4. Toot your horn. A bit of bragging can make the negotiation more favorable for you. Something as simple as, “with my 10 years of experience…” can make a big difference in the hiring manager’s perception.

   Also, if you can bring in serious accomplishments that earned big-time revenue for your former employer, and indicate you can duplicate those results, you’ll have a lot more leverage.

5. Negotiate. These conversations rarely end quickly, so be prepared to put your negotiation skills to the test. It doesn’t have to be scary and keep in mind that your starting salary has a big influence on your salary for years to come, as every raise will be based on that initial benchmark.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Answering “What Are Your Salary Expectations”

• Giving a set amount. Coming up with an exact salary requirement on the spot is a mistake. Allow the hiring manager to give a number first, so that the future negotiation will be in your favor.

• Going too high. When you’re asserting your desired salary, don’t give an unrealistically high number. Use your research to determine what an appropriate expectation is.

• Not doing research. Failing to research salary data will make this conversation pretty one-sided. You need to know what someone in the same job title, with the same experience, in the same geographic location earns. That way, you can back up your expectations with hard data.

• Being negative. Sometimes, you’ll be offered a salary that seems insultingly low. You can decline or negotiate with grace, but you should never come off as arrogrant or rude.

Final Thoughts

When deciding on which would be the best salary for you and the work you do, always remember to show your worth. If, in your current position, you feel as though you are being underpaid for this position, don’t be afraid to give yourself a raise.

Let the hiring manager know that, based on your research, the salary you have chosen is based on your professional level, skills, and qualifications.

Be careful, though — many people get carried away and say a price that is higher than the average salary. By saying a number that’s too high, you run the risk of not getting hired at all.

Remember to be willing to negotiate — just never settle for something that seems unreasonable.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.