How do I answer "What are your salary expectations?" in an interview?
TL;DR: Try to get the employer to name a range first. If pressed, give a researched range (not a single number) anchored slightly above your real target, based on real market data for the role, level, and location — not a guess.
The short answer
This question comes up in nearly every interview process, and the recurring frustration across Reddit is candidates feeling cornered into naming a number first, with no leverage. The fix isn't avoiding the question — it's answering it with a data-backed range instead of an anxious guess.
The evidence
- r/jobs: "'What is your salary expectations?' — is this a gatekeeping question?" drew the top response: "State the range of salaries you would expect depending on benefits, etc. It's really not a trick question."
- r/interviews: multiple threads ask for the "best way to answer" — consistent advice is to research the role's market range beforehand rather than answering off the cuff.
- r/ITResumes: candidates specifically ask how to handle it when asked point-blank "how much do you want?" — recommended tactics include deferring the number to later in the process, or countering with the employer's budgeted range first.
- r/cscareerquestions: a recent graduate with limited leverage still got advice to give a researched range rather than a single lowball number, since a range preserves room to negotiate up.
Deflect-first vs. answer-with-range strategies
| Approach | When to use | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| "What range is budgeted for this role?" (deflect first) | Early-stage screens, when you have some leverage | Some recruiters press for a number anyway |
| Give a researched range, anchored slightly high | When pressed after deflecting once | None if the range is realistic and based on data |
| Give a single exact number | Rarely recommended | Removes negotiating room in either direction |
| Refuse to answer at all | Not recommended | Can read as evasive rather than strategic |
Step-by-step: answering the salary question
- Research the real market range for the role, level, and your location using sites like Levels.fyi, Glassdoor, Payscale, or Blind before the interview — never rely on a gut guess.
- If asked early, try once: "Could you share the budgeted range for this role first?" — many recruiters will answer.
- If pressed further, give a range (not one number), anchored near the top of what your research supports: "Based on my research, I'm targeting [X-Y]."
- Add a qualifier that shows flexibility: "That's flexible depending on the full package — benefits, equity, and growth trajectory all factor in."
- Never give a number you researched at the last minute or guessed under pressure — a confidently stated, data-backed range reads as prepared, not presumptuous.
FAQ
Is it bad to ask the employer for their budget before answering? No — it's a normal, professional question, and many recruiters will simply answer it, saving you from anchoring yourself too low.
Should I give a single number or a range? A range, generally — it preserves negotiating room in both directions and reads as researched rather than rigid.
What if I have very little negotiating leverage (e.g., new grad, career switcher)? Still give a researched range rather than an anxious lowball guess — market data protects you even without leverage, since it reflects the role's real value, not your confidence level.
InterviewBoost.ai's Resume Copilot and Live Interview Assist surface market salary data for the specific role and location in real time, so your range is always backed by current data, not guesswork.
By Pinal Dave | Last updated: 2026-07-24
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