Salary negotiation email: template and examples
A good salary negotiation email is five or six sentences long: thank them for the offer, confirm your interest, state one specific number, give one brief reason tied to the role, and close by inviting a conversation. Leave out apologies, threats, long explanations and claims about other offers you can't back up.
Salary negotiation email template
Subject: Offer for [job title]
"Hi [name], thank you for the offer for the [job title] role. I'm excited about the work and the team. After reviewing the full offer, I'd like to ask for a base salary of $[number], which reflects the scope of the role and the market range for similar positions. If we can make that work, I'm ready to move forward. I'm happy to talk it through on a call. Best, [your name]"
If salary is fixed: ask about another term
"Thanks for checking. If the base salary is fixed, is there flexibility on a signing bonus, the start date or a salary review after six months?"
Tips
- Put the number in one clear sentence
- Keep one reason, not five
- Don't apologize for asking
- Reply within a day or two
Questions
Should I negotiate salary by email?
Email is a good option: it lets you choose your words and gives the employer something clear to take to approvers.
What subject line should I use?
Keep it neutral, like "Offer for [job title]" or "Following up on the offer".
Related answers
Last updated 2026-09-22. Written by Jorge Orozco. How we write our guides.