"Currently, I earn a base salary of 45,000 per year, and I would like to earn slightly higher in my next position, as I have additional certifications since my last salary negotiation took place."

Negotiating pay can often be difficult to navigate. More often than not, it equates to how well you can convey your professional worth. There are many ways one can substantiate their professional worth. Some do so by showcasing what they have to offer, others what they currently earn or their projected earnings, and others what their current employer offered to stay onboard. However, if you don't feel comfortable disclosing your prior salary history, you might not have to. Many states have a salary history ban, prohibiting interviewers from asking you how much you currently make. Some of those states are Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, DC, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania (state agencies only), Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.

How well you perform in your interview also plays a role in establishing your professional worth. But the aim is to keep negotiations open and to ask questions, such as how often they have performance reviews and how often top performers are awarded a pay increase. You can also ask if there is a pay rate cap for the position you are applying for and what percentage, on average, is allowed according to their budget.