What should I put for desired pay?

To determine what you should put for desired pay, you must first evaluate the average salaries for your potential role, consider your cost of living, and include your education and experience in your determination.

Here are some details on these steps and other tips to help you figure out what you should put for desired pay:

• First, evaluate the average salaries for your potential role. Doing a good amount of research is a big help with this question. You can look online for the average salary for someone in your potential role.

  Depending on the specific position, you will likely find a wide range of salaries. However, this gives you a great foundation to build on regarding how to answer this question.

• Think about your cost of living. Salaries for the same job or similar positions often vary by location. If this new job opportunity sees you relocating to a new place, it is important to research that location's cost of living.

  Cost of living includes items like:

  • Rent

  • Home purchase prices

  • Groceries

  • Gas

  • Utility bills

  Some cities have a very high cost of living, while others can be cheaper. You might find that coastal cities in the United States (East and West) are more expensive overall than many cities in between these areas. Reflect on the cost of living in your area to help you determine your desired salary.

• Include your education and experience in your determination. Education and experience are two of the biggest factors determining your desired salary.

  Education can matter more when you don't have much professional experience, while if you do have a lot of professional experience, your education matters less in this area.

  If you want to gain above-average compensation for this new role, you should have the following:

  • A high level of expertise

  • A long history of working in the field

  • Demonstrable skills that are above average for this role

  If you tick any of these boxes, you should feel confident in asking for an above-average salary for the new position.

• Reference the company's hiring protocol. You should only provide the desired salary information when asked for it. Do not include it in your cover letter or resume if the company has not specifically asked you to.

  It is a good idea to hold back on this information until the company gives you a starting offer for salary. This keeps you from pricing yourself too low initially.

• Figure out the appropriate range. Use the steps from the top of this guide to determine your desired salary. Evaluate the following:

  • Average salaries for the same or similar roles

  • Cost of living in your area or where you are relocating to

  • Your education level

  • Your professional experience (length, level of expertise, skills)

  By taking these steps, you should arrive at a number you are comfortable with. You should also let the company know if you are flexible on this figure.