What to Say if Salary is Brought up During an Interview

The appropriate time to discuss salary is after an offer has been made, but sometimes the question gets asked early on, as a request for salary history or as your desired salary for the position.

In many states (including Massachusetts) it is illegal for employers to ask your salary history, but it is not illegal for employers to ask the salary you are looking for.

Ways to Handle This Question

It is best to hold off these discussions as long as possible so that your relevant skills, experiences, and credentials are very clear to the employer.

If an employer will not move off the question, we recommend you give a salary range, not specifics.

The bottom of the range should be a figure you would be willing to accept and acts as a placeholder until you enter into real negotiations when a solid offer is made.

Some ways to say it:

• “I would be happy to discuss the issue of salary as we get further along in our conversations about this opportunity. Right now I want to be sure that I am the right person for your organization.”
• “My salary requirements are negotiable and depend upon benefits as well as the responsibilities agreed upon at the time of a job offer.”
• “I assume a range has been set for this position, and I wonder what the organization has in mind?”