Are you paid enough, or is it time to make your move? (2024)

FAQs

How should I answer salary expectations? ›

Check out websites like salary.com and payscale.com to see what people in your field (and location) are being paid. Call a few headhunters and ask them what the going rate is for someone with your experience. And don't forget to ask friends, who are in similar roles, what their compensation package consists of.

When answering desired salary or expected salary questions on an application, the best approach is to write in “negotiable” or keep the field blank. If a numerical response is required, enter “000” and in a notes section, mention that salary is negotiable based on further understanding of the position.

“Thank you so much for the offer. I'm really excited about the company and the role. I want to be upfront with you that the salary is lower than I was expecting based on my skills and experience.

If you're asked for your salary expectations, you could deflect by saying “What do you usually pay someone in this position?” or “I'd like to learn more about the role before I set my salary expectations. I would hope that my salary would line up with market rates for similar positions in this area.”

Therefore, it's critical to discuss salaries with co-workers and former bosses with this definition of underpayment in mind. If you're being paid less than someone else for the same job in the same industry and location, especially if you have more experience than that person, you're being underpaid.

On a Job Application

Not all applications will ask for your desired salary, so if they don't ask, there's no need to give one. And if they do ask, keep things simple by saying something like “salary is negotiable” or “salary may be discussed during the interview process.”

Q1: How do I answer the question, "Why should we hire you? A: When answering, focus on your relevant skills, experience, and achievements that make you the best fit for the role.You should hire me because I am a hard worker who wants to help your company succeed.

How much is $17 an hour annually? ›

If you make $17 an hour, your yearly salary would be $35,360.

$20 an hour is how much a year? If you make $20 an hour, your yearly salary would be $41,600.

Ask something like, “Could you provide me with the salary range for this position?” or “What is the typical salary range for this role?” Getting a salary range will help you better understand what to expect from the role and guide your responses during negotiation.

If you do discuss compensation, I recommend speaking in terms of a range rather than a specific dollar amount. This will give you some flexibility as the interview process progresses. Consider putting the number you want at the lower end of the range, and then going up 5-10% from there.