Money moments
How do I negotiate this job offer?
The short answer: almost every offer has room in it, the ask is safer than it feels, and the leverage is highest in the window between “we want you” and “you signed.” Negotiate once, specifically, and in writing.
What do I actually say?
A structure that works: gratitude, enthusiasm, one specific ask, one reason.
“I’m excited about this role and ready to move forward. Based on what I’m seeing for comparable roles at this level, I was expecting base closer to $X. If you can get there, I’ll sign this week.”
No apology, no essay, no five simultaneous demands. One clear ask with a commitment attached gives the recruiter something to take to the hiring manager.
When is my leverage highest?
After the offer, before the signature. The company has already spent weeks and real money choosing you; the alternative to a modest bump is restarting the search. That asymmetry is your negotiating position. It evaporates the day you sign, and annual raises rarely close a gap you accepted on day one — a 5% difference compounds through every future raise, bonus percentage, and 401(k) match.
How do I compare two offers with different shapes?
Put everything on one page in annual terms: base, expected bonus, equity per year (with a realistic haircut if it’s private-company equity), 401(k) match, healthcare premium differences. Then weigh the non-dollar terms — growth, manager, commute, stability — separately and honestly. The highest number is not automatically the best offer, but you can’t think clearly until the money is normalized.
The moment this page is for
The offer is sitting in your inbox and you’ve drafted the reply four times. If you want a second opinion on your specific number and script, ask Steph.
Quick answers
Will negotiating make the company rescind my offer?
A professional, specific ask almost never gets an offer pulled. Companies expect negotiation and budget for it. Offers get rescinded over tone and ultimatums, not over asking. If a company would genuinely pull an offer because you asked politely for more, that's information about the company.
What parts of an offer are negotiable besides salary?
Signing bonus, equity grant size, start date, annual review timing, title and level, remote flexibility, and relocation support are all commonly negotiable. Signing bonuses are often the easiest yes because they're one-time costs that don't reset internal pay bands.
Should I tell them my current salary or my number first?
You're rarely obligated to share your current salary — several U.S. states ban employers from asking. If pressed for a number, give a researched market range for the role and level rather than your history. Anchoring on your current pay imports your old employer's decisions into your new one.
How much more should I ask for?
Anchor to market data for the role, level, and location — not to a universal percentage. A well-researched ask 10–15% above the offer with a specific rationale usually lands better than a big round number with no reasoning behind it.
Educational only — not financial, legal, tax, or investment advice. Rules and thresholds change; the specifics of your situation matter more than any general guide.