Asking about your potential salary early on in the application process increases the chance that you’ll negotiate a higher salary. This guide will show you how to ask about salary without predicting your value or price tag. Ask these questions in email before applying, so that you’ll have a better idea of whether the company is willing to pay what you’re worth before agreeing to a phone interview.
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Hi [name],
I’m looking for a new opportunity and was hoping that I could ask you a few questions about the position of [position]. Is this a good time to chat?
- What is the salary range for this position?
- Does the salary depend on experience?
- Can you please send me a link to the job description?
How to ask about salary in email before applying
Address it in a cover letter, if you have one.
If you have a cover letter, you should address salary in it. A cover letter should be brief but not too brief: You want to highlight your background and qualifications for the job, explain why you are interested in the position (what about it attracts you), and ask about salary, benefits and any other important details.
If the company asks for a resume instead of a cover letter or does not mention how long your application should be, then it’s up to your discretion whether or not to include information about salary in your resume.
Use your email signature as an opportunity to bring it up.
Use your email signature as an opportunity to bring it up. Use a bolded format that’s easy to read, like “SALARY REQUIREMENTS: $X, X.XX /yr” or “SALARY REQUIREMENTS: $X, XXX per year.” If you can’t be specific about what you want in terms of salary, then use this space to include links to your portfolio work—that way the hiring manager can see what you’re capable of and make an informed decision based on their needs and budget.
In the subject line itself.
You know why it’s important to ask about salary in an email before applying? Because it’s a factor in your decision to apply.
The subject line is a good place to mention it: “Salary expectations.” Or, if you don’t have numbers in mind, maybe just say “Salary check-in” or something similar. If the job posting had specific requirements like years of experience or minimum compensation, mention those as well so that whoever reads your email knows what you’re looking for out of this potential employer.
Skip the salary question entirely.
- Pros: This can be a great way to avoid awkwardness and get straight to the point, especially if you’ve already talked about salary expectations in an initial phone call or interview.
- Cons: You won’t have a clear idea of what their budget is when you’re negotiating your offer, which could lead to you leaving money on the table. It also makes it harder for employers who are looking for someone with your exact skillset because they’ll have no way of knowing whether or not your current salary matches up with what they need from their new hire.
- How to figure out what salary to ask for: If you’re unsure how much money you should ask for in an email or application form, think about how long it’s been since you last negotiated with an employer (or even just asked for a raise), then build on that number by 10%. For example: If it’s been six months since I last negotiated my paychecks at my old gig, then this time around I’ll ask them for 15% more than what they offered me previously—just because! That way we both win!
including salary information at the beginning of the hiring process may scare off some companies, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing
Including salary information in your initial email—before you’ve even been interviewed or gotten to know a company’s culture—may scare off some companies. But that doesn’t mean it can’t help you.
The truth is, the worst-case scenario for including salary information is that a potential employer won’t respond to your email or will decide not to move forward with an interview. The best-case scenario? You get what you want! And we’re pretty sure most people would rather risk scaring away employers than waste their time interviewing for jobs where they’re not going to be paid what they need.
