Research Market Salary for Your Target Role
Knowing what your target role pays in your market is not optional. Candidates who walk into salary conversations without research either undersell themselves or price themselves out unnecessarily. Neither outcome is acceptable when the solution is 30 minutes of preparation.
Knowing what your target role pays in your market is not optional. Candidates who walk into salary conversations without research either undersell themselves or price themselves out unnecessarily. Neither outcome is acceptable when the solution is 30 minutes of preparation.
Step by Step
Research salary ranges on multiple platforms Check Glassdoor Salaries, LinkedIn Salary, Indeed Salary, Payscale, and Levels.fyi for tech roles. Search your exact target job title filtered by your location and experience level. Look specifically at entry-level ranges. Note the range across all platforms.
Talk to people in your network who are a few years into the field People who started their careers recently in your target role often have the most accurate and candid information about what entry-level roles actually pay. Informational interviews are a great place to ask about general salary ranges.
Check your university career services office for salary data Many universities publish annual salary surveys by program showing what recent graduates are actually earning. This is one of the most reliable sources of entry-level salary data available.
Identify your three numbers Your target salary: The number you would be genuinely happy with based on your research and your cost of living. Your minimum acceptable salary: The lowest you would accept. Know this number clearly before any negotiation conversation. Your opening ask: 10% above your target to give room to negotiate down to where you actually want to land.
Tips for success
Research salaries in your specific city. Entry-level salaries vary significantly by location, sometimes by 30 to 50%.
Total compensation includes more than base salary. Benefits, vacation time, professional development budgets, remote work flexibility, and any performance bonuses all have real monetary value. Factor them into your evaluation.
The salary you accept in your first role influences your starting point for your next role. Negotiating even a small increase at the start compounds significantly over time.