How to Make a Counter Offer for a Job

It’s a wonderful thing to get a job offer. A company wants to hire you, which is a vote of confidence and a sign that you’re doing something right. Unfortunately, not every job offer comes with the salary of your dreams. And that can put you in a position to negotiate. But first you need to know how to make a counter offer for a job.

It can feel like a tricky dance, and many workers avoid it altogether by accepting the first offer without trying to negotiate. But it’s always worth making the effort.

“Don’t immediately accept the first offer,” says Vicki Salemi, Monster career expert. “If it’s close to where you want it to be, or even if it’s what you think you should get, tell them you need to evaluate it and that you’ll get back to them.”

This gives you a little breathing room to assess the offer and decide how you’re going to proceed. The following strategies will show you how to make a counter offer for a job.

Do Your Research Ahead of Time

Based on the responsibilities involved, the area of the country the job is in, and your own experience, you should understand the pay range you’re facing—and which end of it you’re hoping to land on. And you should know all of this before you receive the job offer. Pro tip: Check Monster's salary guide to find out what a person in your position and location can expect to make.

“You should also be speaking to your former boss, mentors, former colleagues, and even talking to professional organizations within your industry,” Salemi says. “So, if you’re an accountant, call the AICPA and ask if you can network with one of their officers.”

You can also reach out to your social media business contacts. To be clear, you’re not asking people how much they make. You’re asking, “What’s standard salary for the industry?” That can help you establish a benchmark in order to know whether you have an opportunity to negotiate.

Understand the Full Benefits Package

You can't learn how to make a counter offer for a job until you know what they are offering you, and what could they offer you. If a company can’t go any higher on salary, are you prepared to ask for other perks?

“Start thinking about what you can ask for that’s outside the box but at the end of the day is additional compensation,” Salemi says. Maybe they offer a commuter’s allowance, or tuition reimbursement. Maybe there’s a chance of a signing bonus. Write down the top three non-salary items you could request if they won’t budge on pay.

Understand, too, what your make-or-break asks are. If a hiring manager has no bandwidth to offer more money, will you be able and willing to accept the role if they throw in some additional benefits? If not, it’s not worth giving them a counter offer if you’re going to walk away from the table either way.

Practice Your Ask

First, and above all, thank them for the offer. Now you have to show them why you deserve even more money, but they absolutely need to know that you appreciate their initial offer.

From there, tell them you were hoping for an offer more like X or Y. “Know how you’re going to say it and what you’re going to ask for, and don’t over-talk,” Salemi says. “Allow for silence. If you find yourself babbling, then it’s probably time to listen. Pause for their reaction.”

Be Reasonable

There’s nothing wrong with asking for slightly more than you think you’re going to get. (Odds are, after all, that they’re offering slightly less than they think you’re going to take.) But if you go too high, you risk looking out of touch.

“Let’s say the range for the job is between $80,000 and $95,000, and you go in asking for $120,000,” Salemi says. “That’s probably going to backfire.” It’s far smarter to start at $100,000 with an eye toward landing closer to $95,000.

The amount they can offer depends on the company and their need, not to mention the skills, the education, and the background you’re bringing to the table. How in demand are you? That will influence what an employer is willing to offer and whether they’ll go beyond the range they’ve budgeted for this position.

And of course, be nice. Stay positive and flexible. The negotiation process is not separate from the rest of the hiring process. Don't be pushy or aggressive.

Be Ready to Walk Away

It's good to know how to make a counter offer for a job, but you also need to know when to walk away from an offer and politely say no thanks. Want help finding a better-paying job? Make a free profile on Monster today. We can send you career advice and tips on job searching, interviewing, and negotiating. You can also get connected to recruiters in your industry. That’s a deal that’s hard to turn down.