Interview"What are your salary expectations?" How to answer
A question asked in almost every interview. Why it is asked, how to build your answer, model answers, and what to avoid.
Why interviewers ask it
The employer has a budget and wants to know whether you fit it. The question is a normal part of hiring, not a trap, but an unprepared answer can cost you money or the offer.
How to build your answer
- Find out the usual range for the role, city and your experience beforehand, from people in the field, job advertisements that state pay, and the company's own postings. We give no figures here, because they vary too much and change.
- Freshers: most companies have a fixed starting pay. Say you are happy to go by the company's norms for the role.
- If asked early, you may say you would like to understand the role fully first, and ask what range is budgeted.
- If you must name a figure, give a range based on your research, with your present pay as context if you are employed.
- Understand the offer: the cost-to-company figure includes employer contributions and variable parts, so ask what the monthly in-hand amount will be.
- Be truthful about your current salary. Employers verify it from pay slips.
Model answers
As a fresher, I am more interested in learning and in a good start. I would be comfortable with the company's standard package for this role. Could you tell me what that is?
I would like to understand the responsibilities a little more before naming a figure. May I ask what range you have in mind for the position? I am sure we can agree if the role is right.
My present fixed pay is [amount] a year. Considering the larger responsibility in this role and what I understand to be usual for it in this city, I am looking at a range of [lower] to [higher]. I am open to discussing the make-up of the package.
Thank you for the offer. I am keen on the role. The figure is a little below what I had expected for these responsibilities. Is there any flexibility, either in the fixed pay or in a review after six months?
These are examples about invented people. Keep the structure, and put in your own facts and numbers.
What to avoid
- Naming a figure without any research.
- Lying about current pay.
- "Whatever you give is fine," when you have experience and a market value.
- Raising salary yourself in the first minutes of a first interview.
- Treating negotiation as a fight; stay courteous.
- Accepting without understanding fixed pay, variable pay and deductions.
Likely follow-up questions
- Is that negotiable? Say yes, within reason, and that the role matters more.
- What is your notice period? State it exactly as in your appointment letter.
Other common questions
Questions by job
Model answers are examples. They show the shape of a good answer, reviewed in November 2026. Use your own facts: an answer copied word for word will not survive a follow-up question. Employers differ, and nothing here promises selection. Names in the examples are invented.