Use LinkedIn to research salaries, benchmark your compensation, and negotiate confidently. Includes scripts, data sources, and free research tools.
Most people leave money on the table because they don't negotiate — or they negotiate without data. According to LinkedIn's Workforce Report, only 39% of professionals negotiate their salary, yet those who do earn an average of $5,000-$10,000 more per year.
The key to confident negotiation is knowing your market value before the conversation starts.
LinkedIn Salary Insights LinkedIn's built-in salary data (available on job listings) shows compensation ranges for specific roles, locations, and experience levels.
Our Salary Research Tool Use our free Salary Research Tool to instantly compare salary ranges for your role across different locations and experience levels.
Glassdoor & Levels.fyi Cross-reference with Glassdoor salary reports and Levels.fyi (especially for tech roles).
Job Listings Many job postings now include salary ranges (required by law in some states/countries). Search for similar roles and note the ranges.
Don't just say "I want more money." Build a data-backed case:
Your Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement — basically, your backup plan. Do you have other offers? Could you stay at your current job? The stronger your BATNA, the more confidently you can negotiate.
Responding to an offer: "Thank you for the offer — I'm really excited about this role. Based on my research and the value I'd bring, I was hoping for a base salary in the range of $[X-Y]. Is there flexibility there?"
During a performance review: "Over the past year, I've [specific achievement]. Based on market data for [role] in [location], my current compensation is below the median. I'd like to discuss adjusting my salary to $[X] to reflect my contributions and market rates."
When asked for salary expectations: "Based on my research, similar roles in [location] pay between $[X] and $[Y]. I'm flexible within that range depending on the full compensation package."
If base salary is firm, negotiate these:
Start your salary research with our free Salary Research Tool.
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