Salary Negotiation Email & Script
Got an offer and want to ask for more? Enter their number, yours and your reasons, and get a polite negotiation email plus a phone script, with real Department of Labor entry-level pay for your field as market data. Free, no sign-up.
From our data: entry-level (Level I) H-1B filings in Oct 2025 - Jun 2026 had a median wage of $80k a year across 37,298 applications, from $70k for research scientists to $122k for software engineers. Department of Labor data.
Why you're asking only choose what is true
Market data
Type your job title above, or choose a field, to see the Department of Labor's entry-level median wage for it (Oct 2025 - Jun 2026).
Negotiation email
Subject: [Job title] offer: [Your name] Hi [Recruiter's name], Thank you again for the offer to join [Company] as [Job title]. I'm excited about the role and the team, and I'd love to make this work. After reviewing the offer of [offer amount], I'd like to ask about the base salary. Based on my research and what I would bring to the role, I was hoping for [target amount]. Market data for similar roles in this area points to a higher base, and I'd like my offer to reflect that. My experience in [your most relevant skill or experience] covers what this role needs, so I expect to contribute quickly. Is there room to adjust the offer? I'm happy to talk by phone if that's easier. If we can get there, I'm ready to move forward. Thank you for your time and consideration. Best, [Your name]
Phone script
1. Open warmly: "Thank you again for the offer. I'm really excited about the [Job title] role at [Company]." 2. Make the ask: "I'd like to talk about the base salary. The offer is [offer amount], and based on what I've researched and what I bring, I was hoping for [target amount]. Is there flexibility?" 3. Give your reason in one or two sentences: "Market data for similar roles in this area points to a higher base, and I'd like my offer to reflect that." "My experience in [your most relevant skill or experience] covers what this role needs, so I expect to contribute quickly." 4. Stop talking and let them answer. Silence is normal. Don't fill it by lowering your number. 5. If they can't move the base: "Is there flexibility on a signing bonus, start date or other benefits?" 6. Close: "If we can get to [target amount], I'm ready to accept. When do you need my answer?" Ask for the final offer in writing.
Anything in [brackets] still needs your details. Copy the text and edit it in your email app.
Got the offer? Then write your two weeks notice letter.
How to use it
- Enter the job, the company, their offer and the number you want.
- Choose only the reasons that are true for you: a competing offer, market data, your skills, or cost of living.
- Check the market data for your field, then copy the email or follow the phone script.
How to negotiate your first job offer
Thank them and say you are excited, so the ask feels like a joint problem, not a fight. Ask for a specific number, not a range, and give one or two honest reasons. Then stop talking and let them answer. Entry-level offers are often more flexible than people expect, and asking politely rarely loses an offer. If the base salary can't move, ask about a signing bonus, start date, remote days or a first-year review.
Where the market data comes from
Every H-1B application is filed with the U.S. Department of Labor with a wage level. Level I is the entry-level wage. We take the median Level I wage for each role family and show it next to your ask. It is a useful reference for what employers file for new hires, but it is not a salary survey, and pay varies a lot by city and company. Use it as one data point and say where it came from.
Frequently asked questions
Is it okay to negotiate an entry-level job offer?
Yes. Most employers expect some negotiation and leave room in the first offer. Be polite, thank them, and ask for a specific number with one or two reasons. Rarely does a respectful ask cost someone an offer.
How much more should I ask for?
There is no fixed percentage. A modest, specific number backed by a reason, like market data or a competing offer, is easiest to say yes to. Look at the pay data for your field above and keep your ask realistic for the role and city.
Should I negotiate by email or by phone?
Many recruiters prefer a quick call, and email works well for putting your ask in writing. A good approach is to send the email, then talk it through by phone. Ask for the final offer in writing either way.
What if they say no?
Ask whether anything else can move: a signing bonus, an earlier review, remote days or extra vacation. If nothing can, decide whether the original offer is still right for you. Thank them either way.
Where does the market data come from?
From the U.S. Department of Labor's public H-1B wage data, which lists the entry-level (Level I) wage employers file for each role. It is a reference point for entry-level pay, not a survey of every employer.
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