"What are your salary expectations?" is a negotiation that's already started — most candidates just don't realize it. Answer too low and you anchor your own offer below market. Answer too high too early and you risk being screened out. The skill is knowing when to deflect and when to give a researched range. Here are the scripts. (For the full negotiation after an offer, see our salary negotiation guide.)
Step one: know your number before you walk in
You can't answer this well without research. Before any interview, know:
- The market range for this role, level, and location (use levels.fyi, Glassdoor, AmbitionBox, peer data).
- Your target (what you want) and your floor (your walk-away).
- Your total current compensation, so you can frame an increase.
When to deflect (early stages)
If it's early — a recruiter screen — it's usually smart to defer, so you don't anchor before they've seen your value:
"I'd like to learn more about the role and the scope before talking numbers. Do you have a budgeted range for this position? I'm confident we can find a fit if it's the right role."
Asking for their range is completely fair and often works.
When to give a range (when pushed)
If they insist or you're further along, give a researched range with your target near the bottom of it:
"Based on my experience and the market for this role, I'm looking in the range of X to Y. Where I land depends on the overall package — base, bonus, equity and growth."
Always give a range, not a single number, and keep your target at the low end so the whole range pulls upward.
Mistakes that cost you money
- Stating your current salary as your expectation — that caps your raise.
- Giving one exact number — no room to negotiate up.
- A range so wide it's meaningless, or a target at the top of your range.
- Sounding apologetic — confidence signals you know your worth.
How to prepare
This is a high-stakes moment that goes wrong when you improvise under pressure. Rehearse both the deflection and the range out loud so they come out calm and confident, not flustered. Greenroom asks this in a real voice interview and tells you whether you sounded confident or shaky. Pair it with our salary negotiation guide.
Frequently asked questions
How do I answer 'what are your salary expectations?'
First research the market range for the role, level and location, and set your target and floor. Early in the process, deflect politely by asking for their budgeted range. When pushed or further along, give a researched range with your target near the bottom, and frame it around the total package, not just base salary.
Should I give a number or deflect?
Deflect in early stages like a recruiter screen, so you don't anchor your offer before they've seen your value — it's fair to ask for their range first. Give a number only when pushed or further along, and make it a range rather than a single figure so there's room to negotiate upward.
What salary range should I give?
Give a researched range based on market data for your role, level and location, and place your actual target near the bottom of it so the whole range pulls the offer upward. Avoid stating your current salary as your expectation, since that caps your raise, and avoid a single exact number that leaves no room to negotiate.
What mistakes should I avoid with the salary question?
Avoid anchoring to your current salary, giving one exact number, offering a meaninglessly wide range, putting your target at the top of your range, or sounding apologetic. Whoever names a number first usually anchors the deal, so deflect early and answer with a confident, researched range when you must.