The timing of discussing salary in an interview is nuanced. An interviewer bringing up salary far too late in the interview process could speak to their lack of professionalism and suggest they are stringing you along and taking advantage of their power differential. For you to ask salary or benefits-related questions too early could speak to your lack of professionalism and suggests pay is your only motivation for pursuing a position. Additionally, if not navigated correctly, you could sell yourself too short. Still, it is best to showcase your belief that this opportunity is a good fit and wait for the interviewer to bring it up first.

When the topic is broached, use your current earnings as a starting point. Be open and honest about your professional worth contrasted against the current job market, and allow for a range of flexibility. If you left your job before finding another, allow for greater flexibility, as it could lower your potential professional worth. Write down that number range.

Next, write down any benefits you receive from your current employer, including how frequently pay raises occur. That should also include any bonuses or incentives, commuter perks, employee resources such as mental health care, health/dental/vision, retirement packages, stock options, PTO, etc. These perks lower your cost of living and can equate to income. Therefore, research what these would cost you out of pocket annually. Write down that number underneath your potential salary range. Now it is fair game to find out what they are offering, and it should give you bargaining room to play with your expected salary range.

Once you've determined your numbers, answer their question by sharing what your current wage is, along with the benefits you receive, and how they reduce your expenses feel free to give them those numbers as well to showcase your professional worth. Next, share how frequently you received pay raises and offer them your projected salary over the next year. Align this with what they have to offer, determining where they're meeting, exceeding, or wanting in this regard, and you can further adjust your number accordingly. Be open, realistic, and honest. This way, you aren't selling yourself too short, nor are you aiming too high. You are simply giving them an understanding of what they have to compete with and what it would take to bring you onboard. With this approach, transparency is the best choice. The better your interview performance is, the stronger your bargaining position will be. So practice, practice, practice.