Don’t Sell Yourself Short: Here’s How to Negotiate Your Remote Salary

Can you Negotiate Your Current Salary without Losing the Job?

Negotiating a fair salary can be challenging, regardless of whether you’re a seasoned remote worker or a new hire. It can be tricky to advocate for yourself and your worth when you’re not physically in the same location as your employer. 

However, a little preparation and the right approach can help you negotiate a remote salary successfully. 

In this post, we’ll go over some tips and strategies to help you navigate this process and come out on top, no matter your experience level as a remote worker.

Why You Should Negotiate Your Remote Salary

Many job seekers typically believe they could lose the job offer if they ask for more money —but that’s almost never the case. Moreover, most job postings don’t disclose the salary range upfront, so recruiters expect you to discuss money at some point. 

A study of recruiting and hiring revealed that 9 out of 10 employers are open to negotiating salaries. In other words, there is almost always room to negotiate – including in remote jobs.

Recruiters always welcome a discussion about salary as long as you engage them in a respectful manner — especially when the job ad didn’t specify a salary. It is part of the recruitment process.  In fact, some recruiters are surprised if you don’t negotiate your salary. Plus, a higher salary equals higher future raises.

How Do You Negotiate a Low Salary Offer? 6 Tips That Work

Before negotiating a remote job, consider your motivation. 

Are you changing careers? Do you seek a better work-life balance? Perhaps you want a higher salary from your current job? 

After recognizing these objectives, you will have the clarity to make your case. Here are six actionable tips that will help you negotiate a salary:

1. Do Your Research and Understand the Market

Whether you are negotiating for a new job or your current salary, research is crucial. For instance, some job ads reveal the expected salary or salary range budgeted. But if they don’t disclose this information, you must do your research to ensure you’re not underselling yourself.

Salary databases like SalaryExpert, Salary.com, Glassdoor, Payscale, and Paysa are excellent resources for learning the prevailing market rates for remote jobs in your industry.

The location and the type of company will also give you some clues about where to position yourself when negotiating your salary. 

For example, a company based in New York may be able to offer more than a company based in rural Idaho. Likewise, a fully remote organization may only be willing to pay a little. 

Talk to friends or colleagues in your industry to get ideas about what you should expect. The more factual you are, the more confident you will be in your negotiations.

Tip: Have a number in mind before you start the negotiation. This way, you can use it as a starting point for discussions.

2. Know Your Worth 

Let’s say you are applying for the role of remote software developer. Quality research will reveal that an entry-level remote software developer role is around $65,000 a year. 

However, a senior role amounts to $173,000 per year. You will understand your worth if you have thoroughly carried out your research. 

When determining your worth, you should also consider other factors like certifications, experience, education, and skills. For instance, if you have just undergone training or earned a certificate that improves the expertise you bring, you are due an increase.

3. Consider Your Cost of Living

When negotiating your salary for a remote job, consider your cost of living. How much will be enough to cater to your basic living expenses like rent, bills, transportation, and food? After taking care of these necessities, what can be set aside for saving or investing?

The Cost of Living (COL) Index is a resource you can use to your advantage. This index is updated monthly by the Council for Community and Economic Research to provide city-to-city comparisons of expenses such as healthcare, groceries, rent, and transportation.

Here’s a  breakdown for calculating your cost of living: 

Housing cost: $X

Transportation: $X

Food: $X

Entertainment: $X

Healthcare: $X

Education: $X

TOTAL: $—

Doing this allows you to establish and calculate the pay you require for your remote work.

Doing this allows you to establish and calculate the pay you require for your remote work.

4. Practice Your Pitch and Make Your Case

Now that you have your research, it is time to practice your pitch and make it convincing. When negotiating for a remote job, you want to be as friendly but firm as possible. 

Practice in front of a mirror or with a friend, and record yourself so you can analyze your performance afterward. The more you practice, the more confident you will be during negotiations.

On D-Day, establish credibility by combining your research with the value you can offer as a remote employee. Describe the results you’ve achieved in your previous roles. Among these could be the number of team members you’ve managed or the number of projects you have completed successfully.

5. Consider Other Perks of Your Compensation Package

Even with the best preparation, there is a chance of stalemate. In this situation, consider other benefits of your job offer besides salary. Some of these include: 

• Flexible working hours or locations 
• Generous paid time off or free days 
• Additional benefits like medical insurance and retirement planning 
• A bonus or incentive program
• Reimbursement arrangements for home offices
• Signing bonus
• A commission on sales or revenue, etc

6. Be Prepared to Walk Away

If you cannot compromise, it may be best to walk away. Never settle for more than what you deserve. Thank the hiring manager for the offer, and respectfully decline. 

They will appreciate your honesty and could reach out to you in the future if there is room to be more flexible. 

The DON’ts to  Negotiating Your Salary (Mistakes to Avoid)

Now you know how to negotiate for your remote salary. But what are the known twists and turns in a salary negotiation?

• Not negotiating: It may seem like the safest option. But going this route can result in missing out on an opportunity to earn more money and have a better financial future. Besides, recent research reveals that people who asked for more money received it. 
• Not knowing your worth: Before starting discussions, it’s important to know your professional value. This helps you to be precise about your demands and expectations. Resources like Glassdoor, Salary.com, and SalaryExpert can help you understand the market rates for your industry.  
• Not discussing benefits: Getting caught up in the salary number and forgetting about benefits is another common salary negotiation mistake. Benefits from an employer, such as health insurance or transportation discounts, can often prove just as valuable as a higher paycheck.
• Bargaining at the wrong time: Negotiations are about knowing when you have leverage. Salary negotiations are no different. So when do you have leverage during a remote salary negotiation? When the recruiter has offered you a job. 
• Demanding a ridiculously high amount: You should seek to get the compensation you deserve. But you must also be reasonable with your request. The goal is to increase your salary, but at the same time, you don’t want to overdo it. For example, pushing for anything above 15% of the initial offer is typically frowned upon. 

Email Template To Politely Ask For More Money

Let’s keep the assumption you applied for that remote software developer role and got it. But the salary offer is below your expectation range. Here’s an example of how to politely negotiate your salary:

Sample #1: 

Hello (Hiring Manager),

Thank you for considering me for the remote developer position and extending an offer letter. I am excited to have been given an opportunity with such a reputable company and look forward to getting started.

Before accepting your offer, I would like to know if we can discuss your proposed salary. 

Unfortunately, I won’t be able to accept the offer at that salary, and I’m hoping we can renegotiate and agree on something that would be mutually acceptable.

 I would feel more comfortable with a salary of $155,000 per year.

Here’s a breakdown of how I arrived at this figure.:

1. In my previous role as a remote developer, I led a team of three developers and was responsible for five projects simultaneously. I also ensured all deliverables were met within deadlines and received praise from the clients for my performance. I also have four years of experience with Java and Spring Frameworks – all of which will help me do an excellent job in this position at your company. 
2. After doing market research and speaking with people in my field, I have learned that a junior remote developer earns around $65,000 a year, and some more senior roles earn up to $175,000 a year.
3. Add more supporting information here and the justification for why you should earn more than they are offering.

I am excited about this position and the prospect of working with the ABC team, so I am eager to come up with a mutually acceptable salary figure. 

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or need additional information. I look forward to hearing back from you soon.

Thank you once again. 

Warm regards,

(Your name).

Sample #2:

Let’s go with a remote customer success manager.

Dear Amanda, 

I am grateful you’ve offered me the remote customer success manager position. I look forward to using my knowledge to help the company achieve its goals, and I can’t wait to start. 

However, before accepting your offer, I’d like to discuss the proposed salary. 

This figure, unfortunately, is below my expectations, and I would be happy to reach a compromise on a number that works for everyone. 

I would be happy with take-home pay of $80, 000 per year. 

Below is how I arrived at this figure. 

•  In my previous role, I managed a team of five customer success reps and was responsible for all aspects of customer service, from lead generation to dispute resolution. I also developed and executed customer retention strategies. 
• After doing market research and speaking with people in my field, I have learned that a customer success manager earns around $110,000 annually. 
• Add more supporting information here and the justification for why you should earn more than they are offering. 

I have always wanted to work for XYZ company, so I am eager to reach a mutually agreeable salary figure. 

I will be happy to answer any questions or provide additional information if needed. I look forward to hearing back from you soon. 

Thank you, 

John.

How to Negotiate a Better Salary – When You’re Already in a Company

• Highlight your accomplishments from your time at the company to the last 6 months. If possible, provide specific numbers and statistics illustrating how your accomplishments have benefited your department and company. For instance, you may say, “In the past year, I generated 5,000 leads for the company, representing an increase of 8%, which resulted in $77,000 in new business.”
• Find out what a competitive salary looks like for your position. Salary surveys can be found online or through your network to get a ballpark figure. 
• Tell your boss what they can expect. You have already explained your previous contributions to the company, but now you want to share your future plans with the company. Tell them what you want to accomplish, how that will benefit the company, and how you will accomplish it.
• Be confident. Be confident when negotiating a higher remote salary. There is no doubt that it can be intimidating. But you have evidence that supports your request: the reasons you identified for your request and your investigation into comparable salary ranges. 

Also, bear in mind that there may be some pushback, and you can get a no. In this case, don’t let your head drop. Keep working hard, and ask in the future. 

Frequently Asked Questions About How to Negotiate Salary Remotely

Negotiate Like a Pro

Talking about money is usually uncomfortable regardless of the circumstance: selling a product, raising money for charity, or negotiating your salary for a remote job. But it is an indisputably important topic. With the tips we’ve shared in this article, you should know how to negotiate your salary like a pro.

By negotiating your salary effectively for a remote position, you can guarantee that you’re fairly compensated for your efforts and add value to the company.