How to answer “What are your salary expectations?”

By the Ace Coach team · Updated October 2026

What they're really asking

They want to know whether you fit their budget before they invest more time. The risk on your side is naming a low number that becomes your offer, or one so high they rule you out without a conversation.

Preparation removes most of that risk. Know the market rate for the role, decide your range ahead of time, and practice saying it out loud.

A structure that works: research, range, room

1. Research. Show that you know the market rate for this role and location.
2. Range. Give a range whose bottom is a number you'd be happy to accept.
3. Room. Say you're open to looking at the whole package, not just base pay.

Before the interview, check the posted range if there is one (several US states now require pay ranges in job ads), salary sites and people you know in similar roles. It's fine to ask for their budgeted range first, especially in an early screening call.

Three example answers

Recent graduate

“From what I've seen for coordinator roles in Chicago, the range is roughly $50,000 to $58,000. Based on that, I'm looking for something between $54,000 and $58,000, and I'm open to talking about the full package, including the training budget you mentioned.”

It shows research, sets a fair range and stays flexible.

Experienced individual contributor

“For senior engineers at companies your size, I'm seeing base salaries between $175,000 and $195,000. With my background in payments, I'm targeting $185,000 to $195,000 base. Equity and bonus matter too, so I'm happy to look at the whole offer together. What range did you have budgeted?”

It anchors with a reason, then hands the question back politely.

Manager

“For a director role leading two teams in Austin, my research puts total compensation at about $210,000 to $240,000. Since I'd be building the second team from scratch, I'm aiming for the upper half of that range. I'm flexible on how it splits between base and bonus.”

It ties the ask to the scope of the job instead of personal needs.

Mistakes that sink this answer

• One exact number. A single figure tends to become a ceiling. A researched range gives you room.
• Lowballing to seem easy. A low first number usually sticks and follows you into the offer.
• Personal reasons. Rent and loans are real, but they aren't why the role is worth more.
• Apologizing. “Sorry, I know it's a lot, but…” invites them to talk you down.

Practice it out loud

Saying a number out loud is surprisingly hard. Most people speed up, hedge or trail off right at the figure. Say your range to a camera ten times until it sounds ordinary, then record a full answer and listen to the moment you say the number. It should be the clearest, steadiest part of the answer.

For a full run at the conversation, including pushback, see salary negotiation practice.