Research Market Salary for Your Target Role
Knowing the current market rate for your target role in your specific location is essential. The salary landscape may have shifted considerably since you were last working. Entering a negotiation with outdated assumptions is one of the most common and most avoidable mistakes returning professionals make.
Knowing the current market rate for your target role in your specific location is essential. The salary landscape may have shifted considerably since you were last working. Entering a negotiation with outdated assumptions is one of the most common and most avoidable mistakes returning professionals make.
Step by Step
Research salary ranges on multiple platforms Check Glassdoor Salaries, LinkedIn Salary, Indeed Salary, and Payscale. Search your exact target job title filtered by your location and experience level. Note the range across all platforms.
Compare current market rates to what you were earning before your break In many fields salaries have increased since several years ago. In others they may have stagnated or shifted depending on how the field has evolved. Understanding where the current market sits relative to your previous compensation helps you set realistic and informed expectations.
Be thoughtful about where you position yourself in the range Your years of pre-break experience are still relevant and valuable. How you position yourself within the market range should reflect both your experience level and an honest assessment of how current your skills are.
Identify your three numbers Your target salary: The number you would be genuinely happy with based on current market research. Your minimum acceptable salary: The lowest you would accept given your financial situation and cost of living. Your opening ask: 10% above your target to give room to negotiate.
Tips for success
Salary has almost certainly increased in most fields since several years ago. Do not anchor to your previous salary without checking whether the market has moved.
Total compensation matters. Benefits, remote work flexibility, professional development support, and growth trajectory all have real value. Factor them into your evaluation of any offer.
If a returnship program offers a lower salary than a standard role consider whether the structured re-entry and the path to a full-time conversion makes the trade-off worthwhile.