Career & Salary FAQs: Job Offers, Pay and Benefits
Short answers on job offers and pay: salary on applications and cover letters, what total compensation includes and how to accept or decline an offer.
Short answers to common pay and job-offer questions: what to put for salary on an application or in a cover letter, what total compensation includes and how to accept or turn down an offer. For quick answers on researching salary, negotiating and changing careers, start with the Career & Salary section of our Resume & Career FAQs.
Career & Salary questions
What should I put for salary expectations on a job application?
On a job application, you can write "Negotiable" or "Open to discussion" if the salary field is optional or accepts text, and talk numbers once you know more about the role. If the form requires a number, give a researched range if it allows one, and make the low end an amount you'd be happy to accept. If it takes only one figure, enter the number your research supports. If the posting lists a pay range, use it as your guide, and see how to research salary before applying for where to find current pay data.
Should I include salary requirements in a cover letter?
Include salary requirements in a cover letter only when the job posting asks for them. Otherwise, save pay for the interview or offer stage. When they're requested, add one sentence near the end that gives a researched range and says you're open to discussing the full package. Leaving out something the posting asked for can make an application look incomplete.
What does total compensation include?
Total compensation is the full value of what you get from an employer, not only your base salary. Depending on the job, it can include bonuses, commission, overtime pay, the employer's contributions to your retirement plan and health insurance, paid time off, equity and allowances such as training or remote-work budgets. When you compare offers, list each part side by side, because a lower salary with stronger benefits can be worth more overall.
How do I accept a job offer?
Accept a job offer in writing, even if you first say yes on a call. Thank the employer, confirm the job title, pay, start date and any terms you agreed, and ask about next steps. If you need time before you answer, ask for a specific date to reply. Wait to resign from your current job until you have the offer in writing and any conditions, such as a background check, are cleared.
How do I turn down a job offer politely?
To turn down a job offer politely, reply promptly, by phone or email, so the employer can move on to other candidates. Thank them for the offer and their time, give a short reason if you want to, such as accepting another role, and say you'd be glad to stay in touch. You don't need to explain in detail, and a gracious reply can keep the door open for future roles.
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