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Salary counter offer calculator

Enter the pay in your job offer and the increase you want to ask for. See the counter-offer figure to name and a range to work within, capped at a top figure if you set one.

Private. Runs in your browser; nothing you type leaves your device.

The pay in the offer, for any period, such as a yearly salary or an hourly rate.

Your own choice of how much above the offer to ask, as a percentage. 10 is only a starting point.

%

Optional. The highest pay your own research supports, in the same period. The counter-offer will not go above it.

How to use it

  1. Enter the offered pay. Type the pay from the offer letter or call. Any period works, a yearly salary, a monthly amount or an hourly rate, and the results use the same period.
  2. Choose how much more to ask for. Enter the increase you want as a percentage of the offer. The default of 10 is only a starting point, so set a figure you can explain with your skills and research.
  3. Add a top figure if you have one. If your research points to a highest figure you can justify for the role, enter it. The counter-offer is capped there so you do not ask for more than you can support.
  4. Use the figure and the range. Name the counter-offer figure when you respond. The range runs from halfway between the offer and your counter up to the counter, which helps you decide what you would accept.

Example

What was entered

Offered pay
80,000.00
Increase to ask for
10%

The result

Counter-offer to ask for (in your currency)
88,000.00
Low end of your range (in your currency)
84,000.00
High end of your range (in your currency)
88,000.00

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Frequently asked questions

How much should I counter a salary offer by?

There is no single right percentage. Base it on what you bring to the role, the research you have done on pay for similar jobs, and how much you want the job. This calculator lets you try different percentages and see the figure each one gives before you reply.

How is the negotiating range worked out?

The high end is your counter-offer. The low end adds half of your chosen increase to the offer, so with an offer of 80,000 and a 10 percent increase the counter is 88,000 and the range runs from 84,000 to 88,000. If you set a top figure, neither end goes above it.

Should I name a single number or a range?

Naming one clear figure, the counter-offer, keeps your ask simple, and you can keep the range for yourself as a guide to where you would settle. If you prefer to share a range, start it at the figure you actually want, since the other side may focus on the lower end.

Can I negotiate more than the base pay?

Yes. If the base pay cannot move far, you can ask about a signing bonus, extra paid time off, an earlier review date or remote days. The total compensation calculator helps you compare what those parts add up to alongside the base pay.

Is my information stored anywhere?

No. The calculator runs in your browser and nothing you type leaves your device. It is free and needs no account, so you can test as many figures as you like before you respond to an offer.