5 Salary Negotiation Scripts That Actually Work
According to Salary.com, only 37% of people negotiate their salary. The other 63% accept the first offer — leaving thousands of dollars on the table.
If you've never negotiated before, it's not because you're bad at it. It's because nobody taught you what to say. Here are five scripts you can use right now.
1. The Initial Response
When you receive an offer, never accept on the spot — even if you love it.
"Thank you so much for this offer — I'm really excited about the role. I'd love to take a day to review the full package and get back to you. Is that okay?"
This buys you time to research and prepare.
2. The Market Data Ask
When you're ready to counter:
"I've done some research on compensation for this role in [city/market], and based on my experience with [specific skill], I was expecting something closer to [X]. Is there flexibility in the base salary?"
Key: always anchor to market data, not personal need.
3. The Total Compensation Pivot
If they say salary is fixed:
"I understand the base salary range is set. Would it be possible to discuss other parts of the package — like signing bonus, extra PTO, or remote flexibility?"
Most companies have more flexibility on non-salary items than they let on.
4. The Competing Offer
If you genuinely have another offer (never bluff):
"I want to be transparent — I have another offer at [X amount]. Your company is my first choice, but I want to make sure the compensation is competitive. Is there room to move closer to that range?"
5. The "Help Me Say Yes"
If you're close but not quite there:
"I'm really excited about this role and want to make it work. If we could get to [specific number], I'd be ready to sign today. Is that something you can work with?"
This shows commitment while being direct about what you need.
The Psychology Behind It
Negotiation isn't confrontational — it's collaborative problem-solving. Hiring managers expect you to negotiate. When you don't, they actually worry you might not advocate well for yourself in the role.
The worst they can say is no. And even then, you've signaled that you know your worth.
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