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Tough Interview Questions

To help you prepare for your next job interview, here are 30 of our hardest interview questions.

Tough was updated by on March 19th, 2024. Learn more here.

Question 30 of 30

How much do you think this job should pay?

"I am currently earning $15/hour and am up for a raise to $16/hour in the next couple of months. My ideal salary is $17-19/hour plus health benefits, which I believe is a fair ask for this role."

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How to Answer: How much do you think this job should pay?

  • 30. How much do you think this job should pay?

      What You Need to Know

      This question is merely another way for the interviewer to ask about your desired pay for this role. Be honest about what you are hoping to make, but you should also avoid asking for too little, or for too much. Using an online salary calculating tool, like the ones from Glassdoor or Indeed, will help you to determine the average ask for your position, years of experience, and even location. You can also use your current salary as part of the basis for your ask.

      Written by Rachelle Enns on December 5th, 2020

      Answer Example

      "I am currently earning $15/hour and am up for a raise to $16/hour in the next couple of months. My ideal salary is $17-19/hour plus health benefits, which I believe is a fair ask for this role."

      Written by Rachelle Enns on December 5th, 2020

      Admin Example

      "I am newer to my career, so I performed some research on the topic, hoping to gain an understanding of the average pay for a receptionist in this area. The ranges I saw were $14-18/hour depending on experience. Do you have an amount in mind for this position?"

      Written by Rachelle Enns on December 5th, 2020

      Manager Example

      "Managers in this industry, with my level of experience, range from $80,000-120,000 per year. I am currently earning in the upper scope of that. In my next position, I would like to see a fair increase in my pay but am also more interested in discussing additional perks such as health and dental benefits, vacation time, and more."

      Written by Rachelle Enns on December 5th, 2020

      Marketing Example

      "I have worked as a freelancer for a few years, so it is challenging for me to determine how much is average pay for this type of role. I have heard a range but would be interested in learning more about what you are offering, as I am sure it is fair."

      Written by Rachelle Enns on December 5th, 2020

      Retail Example

      "Most retail positions offer minimum wage plus some commission breakdown. Overall, I currently earn about $18/hour with commission worked in. I would like to join a company that is a touch more generous than my current employer, but that can also translate into work-related perks versus my hourly rate."

      Written by Rachelle Enns on December 5th, 2020

      Sales Example

      "I need to be earning a minimum of $150,000 per year. I believe this number to be very fair given my track record of success and the many years of experience I bring in this industry."

      Written by Rachelle Enns on December 5th, 2020

      Teacher Example

      "From what I have researched, the average pay for a high school English teacher with 8-10 years of experience, in this region, is $90,000 per year. Is this correct?"

      Written by Rachelle Enns on December 5th, 2020

      Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

      Anonymous Answer

      "Given I have 20 years of Human Resource experience to bring to the table, working for large multinationals and holding regional leadership roles, I would like to think that the salary you offer would be in line with the market and commensurate with my skills and experience."

      Stephanie's Feedback

      Salary is always a really tricky topic! You do a great job of addressing your skills and your years of professional experience while stating that you hope the salary is commensurate to your skills and experience. This is a wonderful way of deflecting the question a bit without providing a specific number (although I would encourage you to have a range in mind, in case you're pressed." To strengthen your response, you may wish to include an additional sentence stating that, if you progress in the interview process, you're very open to further discussion and feel confident that you can come to an agreement about compensation.