When you’re looking for jobs that require travel, it’s important to negotiate your salary. Here are some tips:
-Be prepared. Before you talk about money, make sure you’ve done your research and know what the average salaries are for the job you’re applying to.
-Keep in mind that working remote can be more expensive than working in an office. If this is something you need or want, be prepared to explain how it will work for the company and how it will benefit them (and especially how much it will cost them). This can help convince employers that remote work is worth the investment.
-Make sure you understand what benefits are included in the position before negotiating salary. You may want to ask if there are any other perks or benefits that come with taking on this role (like free travel or relocation expenses).
How To Negotiate Salaries For Jobs That Require Travel
A job that includes travel can be a dream come true, or a hassle to contend with. Either way, you have a right to be compensated for the extra time travel adds to your work schedule, as well as the inconvenience associated with being away from home for extended periods of time. Negotiate travel compensation expectations before you accept a job to ensure there are no unpleasant surprises.
1
Discuss how much travel the employer anticipates for you. While traveling to a convention twice a year might not give you a lot of room for negotiation, being asked to fly across the country twice a week means a major adjustment to your lifestyle and is grounds for additional compensation.
2
Tally the actual hours you will spend away from home. Even though an employer might argue that a two-day trip isn’t likely to include 48 actual work hours, it is still time that is dedicated to your employer. Emphasize this in your negotiations and outline how you plan to use your transit time on the company’s behalf, reading reports, working on a laptop or keeping in touch with clients while waiting for flights. This positions you as being effectively “on the clock” during your waking travel hours.
3
Attempt to negotiate a premium pay scale for travel hours. If the employer isn’t willing to negotiate, ask for comp time for travel-related work that exceeds the standard 40-hour workweek.
4
Factor in associated personal costs that will result from extended travel. For example, if you must arrange for child care, pet boarding or house-sitting to accommodate your business travel, consider the expense and bring it up in your negotiations.
5
Ask for perks. If the employer is unwilling to budge on monetary compensation, ask for a generous travel expense account, upgraded accommodations or a spousal travel allowance. While this doesn’t add to your salary, it can make your trips more enjoyable.
