When determining salary for a position, consider the following factors:
- The company’s budget for the position
- How much the company can afford to pay based on its expenses and revenue
- How much salary research you have done on similar positions and companies
- The experience level of the candidate in relation to their qualifications
How To Determine Salary For A Position
Looking for jobs to apply for can require research to help you find a company that meets your needs. An important piece of information to look for is the salary range, which can help you determine whether a position is a strong job option for you. If it isn’t readily available, you can find out the salary range in other ways. In this article, we discuss what a salary range is and seven ways you can learn what a job pays before you apply.
Read more: Salary Calculator
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What is a salary range?
A salary range is a number a company provides when advertising a job posting that tells interested people the expected pay for the position to help them decide whether to apply. The number can be an hourly, weekly, monthly or yearly rate, and it can include any other pay criteria, such as pay per page for a book editor. The range isn’t a guarantee, and a candidate’s actual offer can depend on their experience and expertise.
A salary range can be helpful for the employer and the candidate. An employer can advertise a high salary to encourage qualified talent to apply for their jobs. If they have a firm budget for what they can pay someone, the employer can save time by immediately declining candidates who have higher salary expectations than the company can provide.
Related: How To Determine a Salary
6 ways to find salary ranges for jobs
When applying for jobs, it’s important to remain professional in all your communications to make a good impression. Asking for a salary range can help because it can help you determine whether you want to go further in the hiring process for a position. A company may appreciate your respect for their time and desire to establish similar wants concerning salary before you meet for an interview or start negotiating a contract. Here’s a list of ways you can find a salary range for a job:
1. Look at the job posting
If you’re wondering what a salary range is, consider first looking at the job posting. Reading the posting carefully can save you time and unnecessary communication with a hiring manager. Many job posting websites have a specific field for salary ranges, so you may be able to find the information quickly if the company included it. Many jobs list the salary range in the posting to help qualified candidates understand whether the job is the right fit for them.
Related: What Is a Good Salary for You?
2. Ask the hiring manager
If you’re interested in a position, but the company hasn’t listed the salary range in its job description, you can contact the hiring manager to ask them. You can ask questions before a company responds to your resume or application, and hiring managers often receive requests for additional information from interested candidates. Doing this also can show you have initiative and are genuinely interested in the position.
Related: How Are Salaries Determined?
3. Respond to an interview request
If you want to wait until you know the company has an interest in you for the position, you can reply to an interview request they send you to ask about salary. By contacting you to schedule an interview, the company is letting you know they’re interested in your qualifications and you’re progressing through the hiring process. Asking about pay before you go into the interview can save you and the potential employer time and energy and ensure there’s a mutual understanding of expectations.
Related: Jobs That Aren’t 9-5 With Salaries
4. Ask the recruiter
If you’re working with a recruiter or if a recruiter contacted you regarding a position, you can ask them about any salary information they have for the position. The recruiter works as a third party between you and the company, so there may be more willing to disclose this information earlier in the hiring process. Recruiters also might ask you what salary range you want when you start working with them to help them find better matches for the company. You can reply with your requirements, but if you have more flexible salary requirements, consider asking what the company is offering before putting forth your salary expectations.
Related: What Is a Competitive Salary?
5. Include a note in your cover letter
A cover letter also can be a good place to include additional questions you have about a job posting or company, including salary information. If you have a specific range you’re looking for, you can include it in your cover letter to inform the hiring manager not to move forward with the hiring process if their budget is lower than what you provided. This also allows you to explain why you think you deserve a certain pay range based on your skills and experience, which might persuade a hiring manager to offer you a higher salary than they planned to.
6. Perform independent research into the company
If the company doesn’t provide contact information in its job posting, or if it says it won’t disclose salary until the offering stage, you can perform independent research to find out a potential salary range. There are various websites and online career guides that post the salaries of companies. Consider searching for the company you’re applying to and try to find any information about previous positions similar to the open one. Then, try to see whether there’s a salary for that position listed. This can be a good indicator of what the company intends to pay for the open position.
If you can’t find anything for the specific company, you can look up average salaries for that job title in your area. The company you’re applying to may be higher or lower than the average salary, but if you’re new to the industry, it can be a good basis to let you know what job titles are in your salary range.
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Examples of how to find salary ranges of a job
If you want to know the salary range for a job you’re interested in, consider the following examples to help you find it:
Job posting information
Here’s an example of a job posting in which a company included its salary range for potential candidates:
Handberg’s Handbags is looking for a retail sales associate to work at our downtown location. We sell luxury handbags and have a devoted clientele list with whom our retail sales associates build long and lasting customer relationships. Consider applying if you’re good with people and love to talk about fine leather and beautiful handbags.
Responsibilities:
- Closing the store
- Opening the store
- Managing the phone
- Taking special orders
Qualifications
- Two years’ retail experience
- Luxury sales experience a plus
Salary range: $15-$17 an hour, plus commission
Email to hiring manager
Here’s an example of an email you can send a hiring manager to ask about salary before you apply for a job:
To: Handbergshandbagshiring@email.com
From: SarahSilas@email.com
Subject: Retail Sales Associate Open Position Inquiry
Hiring manager,
I saw a job listing for a retail sales associate position at the downtown location of Handberg’s Handbags posted online. I believe I have the experience and qualifications the posting listed, and I’m interested in applying for this position. Do you have a salary range in mind for the position or what the typical salary is for someone in this position?
Thanks in advance,
Sarah Silas
Retail specialist
Interview response
Here’s an example of a salary request email you can send in response to an interview request:
To: Handbergshandbagshiring@email.com
From: SarahSilas@email.com
Subject: RE: Retail Sales Associate Interview Request
Hiring manager,
Thank you so much for reviewing my application material! I am extremely excited to hear from you, and I would be glad to set up a time for an interview. From the list of times you sent, I’m available next Tuesday at 2 p.m.
Before I come in for an interview, I want to ask about the potential salary range for this position. I’ve been working in luxury retail for five years and am looking for a salary between $15 and $17 an hour before commission. Please let me know if this is similar to the range you’re budgeting for this position. If so, I’d be happy to move forward with the interview process.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Best wishes,
Sarah Silas
Retail specialist
Email to recruiter
Here’s an example of a message you can send to a recruiter who has contacted you about a position:
To: Recruiter@email.com
From: SarahSilas@email.com
Subject: RE: Retail Sales Specialist Open Position
Hello [recruiter’s name],
Thank you for contacting me about this position. I’m interested in applying, and I’ve attached an updated version of my resume and cover letter for you to pass along. I was wondering if there’s a salary range already decided for this position. I have a specific range I’m looking for in my job search, and I want to make sure I am being respectful of the hiring managers’ time by applying. I appreciate your help!
Best wishes,
Sarah Silas
Retail specialist
Cover letter note
Here’s an example of a cover letter with the salary range included:
Sarah Silas
Sarahsilas@email.com
November 3, 2021,
Hiring manager
Handbergshandbagshiring@email.com
Dear Hiring Manager,
I saw a posting for your open retail sales associate position in the downtown location posted online. I’ve been a long-time customer and admirer of Handberg’s handbags, so I’m excited to submit my resume for consideration.
I have five years’ experience in luxury retail. I fell in love with luxury retail after making my first sale, establishing a lasting connection with a long-time client. This client still works with me today, and I’ve expanded my client network to five more clients through this connection alone. I currently have 25 luxury clients I could bring to Handberg’s Handbags, along with my luxury expertise and passion for designer handbags. Based on my experience and skill set, I’m looking for a salary between $15 and $17 before commission.
I’m ready to continue moving forward in my luxury retail career and am excited about the possibility of working with Handberg’s Handbags because of the company’s prestige and the quality of its products. I know I can help my clients find prices they love and make more meaningful customer relationships in this environment. I look forward to hearing from you to learn more about the position.
Best wishes,
Sarah Silas
Retail specialist
