Pay and offersFor candidates · 8 min read
How to negotiate a salary offer, and compare 2 offers
Wait for the offer, research typical pay for the job and place, then ask for a specific figure. How to read pay percentiles and compare 2 offers.
Pay and offers
Know what a job pays and what an offer is worth.
About pay and offers
An offer is more than a pay rate. Compare the base pay, overtime rules, benefits, and schedule, and put offers side by side on the same terms. Your take-home pay is what remains after taxes and deductions. To compare an hourly rate with a salary, multiply the rate by the hours you will work in a year.
To check what a job pays, start with the wage surveys of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. A median wage is the middle value: half of workers in that job earn more, and half earn less. Your experience and location can move a fair offer above or below it.
Minimum wage depends on where you work. Federal, state, and some city minimums differ, and you are owed the highest one that applies.
Ask for more with a specific number and a reason tied to the role. Several states and cities require employers to post a pay range in job listings, which gives you a reference point. Get the final offer in writing before you accept it.
