How to Answer 'What Are Your Salary Expectations?'

Few interview questions cause as much anxiety as "What are your salary expectations?" Answer too high and you might price yourself out; too low and you anchor the entire negotiation beneath your worth. The good news: a little preparation turns the question from a trap into a chance to set the range in your favor.

Step 1: Research the market range first

Never answer from your gut. Before any conversation, pin down what the role pays for your experience and location. Start with public wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, then narrow it with role-specific salary guides. You want a realistic band — a low end, a midpoint, and a high end — not a single wish.

Step 2: Give a range, not a point

When you do name a number, give a range with your actual target near the bottom of it — for example, if you want $95,000, say "$95,000 to $110,000." Employers tend to gravitate to the low end, so anchoring your target there protects you. Keep the range tight (about 15–20%) and grounded in your research so it reads as informed, not arbitrary.

Step 3: It’s okay to defer — early

If the question comes up before you understand the role, it is completely reasonable to defer: "I’d like to learn more about the responsibilities first, but based on my research the range for this role looks like X to Y — does that align with your budget?" That answer signals preparation, keeps you from anchoring blind, and flips the question back to them.

Step 4: Know your take-home floor

A number only means something once you know what you keep. Convert any figure to its take-home equivalent so you know the real floor you can accept — the same gross salary nets very differently across states and filing situations.

And if you’re comparing an hourly contract rate against a salaried offer, put them on the same annual basis before you respond.

Put it together

Research the range, give a range with your target at the bottom, defer politely if it’s early, and make sure any number still clears your take-home floor. One more edge: candidates who look like an obvious fit have more room to name a higher number — a resume tuned to the role and to applicant-tracking systems is what earns that credibility.