The bottom of your salary range should be an amount you would genuinely accept—not a number you add to sound flexible. If you would be disappointed by an offer at that level, leave it out.

You can be cooperative without volunteering your lowest acceptable pay. The goal is to explain what you are seeking, understand what the employer can offer, and avoid committing before you know enough about the job.

Set your target before the conversation

Prepare three reference points for yourself: your preferred salary, the range you are comfortable discussing, and your private minimum. You do not need to disclose all three.

Base your target on the role you are considering, rather than simply adding something to your current pay. Review available salary ranges in relevant job postings, paying attention to responsibilities, location, working hours, and seniority. Use those comparisons as preparation, not as proof that every employer should pay the same amount.

Then separate base salary from the rest of the package. A bonus, benefits, or additional leave may matter to you, but decide which items could actually change your decision.

Write down:

• The base salary you want to request.
• A range whose lower end you would be comfortable accepting.
• The conditions that would justify adjusting that range, such as narrower responsibilities or a different working schedule.
• Your private minimum, below which the role would not work for you.

Keep that last figure private. It is a decision boundary, not your opening position.

Ask for the budget before naming a figure

If salary comes up before the employer has explained the role, ask for the range and clarify the scope.

Try:

“Could you share the budgeted base-salary range for this position? I’d also like to understand the responsibilities before giving you a firm expectation.”

This is a direct question, not an attempt to avoid the subject. If the recruiter provides a range, do not immediately agree to its lowest point. Ask what distinguishes placement within it:

“What experience or responsibilities would support an offer toward the upper end of that range?”

If they need your expectations first, give a provisional answer rather than inventing certainty:

“Based on what I understand so far, I’m targeting a base salary between [lower amount] and [upper amount]. I’d want to confirm the scope and overall package before settling on a specific figure.”

Use “base salary” if that is what you mean. If an application asks for one number, check whether it requests annual base pay or total compensation before entering your target.

Explain your expectation without apologising

Connect your request to the work. Choose relevant responsibilities or experience you can substantiate, rather than making a broad claim about your worth.

For example:

“Given the responsibility for managing the team and owning the delivery schedule, I’m targeting [amount] in base salary. That also reflects my experience handling those responsibilities.”

Avoid softening the request with “I know that’s probably too much” or “I’ll take anything reasonable.” Those phrases contradict the expectation you just stated.

If asked about your current salary, you can redirect without being confrontational:

“I’d prefer to focus on the scope and compensation for this position. For this role, my target is [amount].”

Then pause and let the employer respond. You do not need to fill the silence by offering a discount.

Do not lower your number before anything changes

If the employer says your expectation is above budget, clarify the gap before revising your request:

“Is that the firm limit for base salary, or is there flexibility based on experience?”

If base pay is fixed, ask about other terms you genuinely value. Request the details in writing before deciding whether they compensate for a lower salary.

You can also hold your position:

“Thank you for clarifying. At that base salary, I wouldn’t be able to move forward. If the budget changes, I’d be interested in continuing the conversation.”

Before your next salary discussion, write out your target and practise saying it without an apology. Check the lower end of your stated range once more: if an offer there would feel like a mistake, revise it before you say it aloud.