How to Negotiate a Higher Salary: With Script Templates

Introduction

Salary negotiation is the single highest-leverage conversation you will ever have. A $5,000 raise negotiated today compounds into over $100,000 of additional lifetime earnings (factoring in future raises based on the higher base). Yet 60% of employees never negotiate their salary. They leave tens — or hundreds — of thousands of dollars on the table.

This guide covers the complete negotiation playbook: preparation, timing, strategy, scripts, and how to handle objections. Whether you are starting a new job or asking for a raise at your current one, you will know exactly what to say.

Why Most People Do Not Negotiate

Reason	The Truth
"I do not want to seem greedy"	Employers expect negotiation. Not negotiating can actually make you seem less confident.
"They might withdraw the offer"	Extremely rare. Offers are withdrawn in less than 2% of negotiations.
"I do not know what to say"	This guide gives you the exact words.
"I am lucky to have a job"	Your skills have value. Do not discount yourself.
"They said it is their best offer"	This is almost never true. There is always room.

The Preparation Phase

Step 1: Know Your Market Value

Before you ask for a specific number, you need to know what the market pays for your role.

Source	How to Use	Quality
Glassdoor	Search your job title + location	Good (free)
Levels.fyi	Best for tech roles (shows company-specific data)	Excellent
LinkedIn Salary	Filtered by industry, location, experience	Good
Blind	Anonymous salary discussions (verification required)	Good for tech
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)	Government data by occupation and region	Excellent
Recruiters	Ask recruiters about salary ranges for similar roles	Variable

Compile a salary range:

Let us say you are a Marketing Manager in Chicago with 5 years of experience.

Source	Low	Median	High
Glassdoor	$72,000	$82,000	$95,000
LinkedIn	$70,000	$80,000	$92,000
Levels.fyi	$75,000	$85,000	$100,000
Your target range	$80,000	$85,000	$95,000

Your target: $85,000–$90,000.

Step 2: Quantify Your Value

Money talks. Bring data. Prepare 3–5 specific accomplishments that demonstrate your impact.

Bad: "I work hard and always meet deadlines." Good: "I led a project that increased revenue by 18% ($250,000) over 12 months with a $15,000 budget."

Accomplishment formula:

I [action] that resulted in [metric] [impact] over [timeframe] with [resources].

Examples by role:

Role	Example Accomplishment
Sales	"I exceeded my quota by 135% for 3 consecutive quarters, generating $2.1M in new business."
Engineer	"I redesigned the payment system, reducing transaction failures by 40% and saving $180K/year."
Marketing	"I launched an email campaign that increased conversion rates by 22%, generating $340K in attributable revenue."
Operations	"I streamlined the onboarding process, reducing time-to-productivity from 8 weeks to 3 weeks."
Customer Success	"I reduced churn from 8% to 4%, retaining $500K in annual recurring revenue."

Step 3: Define Your Walk-Away Number

Before the conversation starts, decide:

• Target: What you realistically want ($85,000)
• Walk-away: The minimum you will accept ($78,000)
• Stretch: What you would ask for if everything goes perfectly ($92,000)

Knowing your walk-away number gives you confidence. You cannot be pushed below it because you already decided.

The Strategy

When to Negotiate

Scenario	Best Timing
New job offer	After receiving the written offer, before accepting
Annual review	2–3 months before review cycle (plant the seeds early)
Promotion	When the new role is announced, before the salary is set
Off-cycle raise	After a major accomplishment (closed big deal, launched product)

What to Negotiate (Beyond Salary)

If they cannot budge on base salary, negotiate other items:

Item	Typical Value	More Likely to Be Flexible?
Signing bonus	$5,000–$50,000	Yes (one-time, no ongoing cost)
Performance bonus increase	5–20% more	Sometimes
Stock options / RSUs	$10,000–$100,000+	Yes (for tech companies)
Vacation time	1–2 extra weeks	Sometimes
Remote work flexibility	Priceless	Yes (zero cost to employer)
Professional development budget	$1,000–$5,000	Yes
Start date / sabbatical	Depends	Very flexible
Title	Future career impact	Very flexible
401(k) match improvement	1–4%	Rare

The Scripts

Script 1: First Job Offer (Phone or Video Call)

You've just received the offer. Do NOT accept immediately.

What to say:

"Thank you so much for the offer. I am really excited about this role and the team. Based on my research and experience, I was hoping for something in the range of [$85,000–$92,000]. Is there room to move on the base salary?"

Why this works:

• Expresses gratitude first (maintains positive relationship)
• States a range (not a single number — gives room)
• Asks an open question (not "can you do $85,000?")

Script 2: After They Give a Number Below Your Target

Them: "We can offer $78,000."

You:

"I appreciate that. Based on my skills in [specific area] and my track record of [specific accomplishment], I was looking for something closer to $87,000. Is there flexibility in that range?"

If they push back:

"I understand there are budget constraints. If $87,000 is not possible, could we look at a signing bonus of $5,000 or an additional week of vacation to close the gap?"

Script 3: Asking for a Raise at Your Current Job

Schedule a 30-minute meeting. Do not do this in passing.

What to say:

"Thanks for meeting with me. I want to discuss my compensation. Over the past [time period], I have [accomplishment 1], [accomplishment 2], and [accomplishment 3]. Based on my research, the market range for this role is [$X–$Y]. My current salary is [$current]. I am asking for an increase to [$target]. I love working here and want to continue delivering results at this level. Can we discuss what is possible?"

Follow-up if they say "budget is tight":

"I understand. Would it be possible to revisit this in 3 months with specific performance milestones? Alternatively, could we discuss a one-time bonus or additional PTO in the interim?"

Script 4: Email Negotiation (Written Offer)

Use email for the initial counter if you are uncomfortable with live negotiation.

Subject: Job Offer — [Your Name]

Dear [Hiring Manager/Recruiter],

Thank you so much for extending this offer. I am very excited about the opportunity to join [Company] as [Title].

After reviewing the offer, I was hoping to discuss the base salary. Based on my experience in [skill/industry] and the market data I have gathered, I was targeting a salary in the range of [$X] to [$Y].

Is there flexibility to adjust the offer to [$X]?

I am eager to accept and get started if we can find a number that works for both of us.

Best, [Your Name]

Script 5: Handling "What is your current salary?"

In 2026, many states and cities have banned this question. If it comes up:

"I prefer not to share that. I would rather focus on the value I can bring to this role. What is the budgeted range for this position?"

If pressed:

"My current salary is not relevant because this role has different responsibilities and I have gained additional experience since then. Based on my research, a fair range for this position is [$X–$Y]."

Handling Common Objections

"This is our final offer."

"I understand. Is there any flexibility on other components like a signing bonus, equity, or additional vacation time?"

If truly no movement:

"I appreciate you being transparent. I am going to accept at the offered level because I am excited about the role. I look forward to proving my value and revisiting compensation at my 6-month review."

"We need to see you perform first."

"I completely understand. Could we agree to a performance review in 3 months where, if I hit [specific milestone], my salary would be adjusted to [$X]?"

"That is above our budget for this role."

"I understand budgets are important. Could you share what the budgeted range is? Perhaps we can find a number in the middle, or adjust the total compensation package to include a signing bonus or performance bonus."

"We have other candidates willing to work for less."

"I respect that you have options. What I bring is [specific skill/experience] that directly addresses [company need]. I believe my contribution will far exceed the salary difference. Can we find a number that works for both of us?"

The Post-Negotiation

If You Succeed

1. Get everything in writing — Ask for a revised offer letter or email confirming the new terms
2. Express gratitude — "Thank you for working with me on this. I am excited to get started."
3. Deliver — Your first 90 days are critical. Prove you were worth every dollar.

If You Do Not Get the Full Amount

• Evaluate the entire package (not just salary)
• Ask for a 6-month review with a raise clause
• Accept or walk away based on your pre-determined walk-away number

If the Offer Is Below Your Walk-Away

"I appreciate the offer and the time you have invested. Unfortunately, the total compensation does not meet my needs. I would love to stay in touch for future opportunities if the parameters change."

Always decline gracefully. You never know when paths will cross again.

Practice Scenarios

Scenario A: You Are Underpaid by 15%

Fact	Detail
Current salary	$65,000
Market value	$75,000–$80,000
Your target	$78,000
Accomplishment	Led project that saved $150K/year

Script: "I have been here for 3 years and consistently delivered strong results, including a project that saved $150K annually. My salary of $65,000 is below the market range of $75K–$80K. I am requesting an adjustment to $78,000."

Scenario B: You Received a Competing Offer

Fact	Detail
Current salary	$80,000
Competing offer	$95,000
You want to stay	Yes (culture, growth, commute)
Your ask	$90,000–$95,000

Script: "I received an offer from another company for $95,000. I would prefer to stay here because I believe in the mission and enjoy the team. Could you match or come close to that offer?"

Warning: Only use this strategy if you are genuinely willing to accept the competing offer. Do not bluff.

Negotiation Do's and Don'ts

Do

• Be respectful and collaborative
• Come prepared with data
• Practice your script out loud
• Stay calm and professional
• Consider total compensation, not just salary
• Get everything in writing
• Know your walk-away number

Don't

• Accept the first offer immediately
• Lie about other offers or your current salary
• Make ultimatums ("Match this or I quit")
• Get emotional or angry
• Negotiate only on salary (consider the full package)
• Forget to express gratitude

Conclusion

Salary negotiation is a learnable skill. Like any skill, it improves with practice. The first time is the hardest. But the financial impact is enormous — potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars over your career.

Remember:

• Companies expect negotiation
• You will not lose the offer by asking
• The worst they can say is no
• Every dollar you negotiate now compounds for the rest of your career

Action items this week:

1. Research your market value using 3 sources
2. Write down 3 quantifiable accomplishments
3. Define your target, walk-away, and stretch numbers
4. Practice the script out loud 5 times
5. Schedule the conversation
6. Send a follow-up email confirming the outcome