How to Include Salary Requirements in Your Cover Letter

You should not include salary requirements in your cover letter unless the job posting clearly asks you to include them. Usually, salary negotiations occur after the hiring manager has offered you the job.

However, job postings sometimes do explicitly request you to include your salary requirements in your cover letter.

Example of a cover letter with salary requirements

Here’s a good example of a cover letter that politely states a salary requirement:

The final paragraph of this cover letter is a great example of how to include salary requirements because it:

• Mentions the salary requirement briefly at the end of the letter after having outlining why the applicant is a strong fit
• Shows the applicant has done their research by mentioning the position, their experience, and the location
• Provides a salary range rather than a single figure

Here are four steps to writing a cover letter that addresses your salary politely and professionally:

1. Only include salary requirements when requested

It’s rare to find a job posting that requests your salary requirement, so don’t add it unless it’s asked for.
Here are three reasons why employers might ask you to include your salary requirements in your application:

• To see how you value your experience and skills
• To ensure your salary expectations are in line with the company’s budget
• To find out what kind of salary candidates are expecting for the position

2. Research the going rate for your role, industry, and location

Be realistic when outlining your salary expectations. If your salary requirements are too high, the hiring manager will pass over your application.

However, don’t undersell yourself. If your skills, qualifications, and experience are in demand, you may have an advantage when negotiating your salary.

Here are three main factors that affect your salary requirements:

• Role: Your role has a large impact on how much you earn. An entry-level employee in any industry will start off lower than job seekers with experience, for instance.
• Industry: Even for the same job, your industry affects your earning potential. For example, federal jobs don’t pay as much as the private sector does.
• Location: Your location also affects your paycheck so check the going rates for positions similar to yours in that city and state.

Here’s how a designer justifies salary expectations in an interview using the STAR method:

@resumegenius How to justify a higher salary using the star method ? #starmethod #starmethodtips #interviewtips #salarynegotiation #salarynegotiationtips ♬ original sound – Resume Genius | Career Advice

3. Include a salary range that’s on the higher end of your research

When submitting your salary requirements, never go beyond the highest salary your research turns up.

Instead, make a salary request that’s within reason based on your results, but is on the higher end. This gives you room for negotiation, because it sets an anchor, and the hiring manager then has to justify giving you less.

Additionally, set an expected salary range rather than an exact figure (for instance, $55,000–$60,000). A range lets you set the minimum you’re willing to accept, while the higher salary total is something you can target in negotiations.

4. Add your salary requirements to your closing paragraph

You should state your salary requirements in the last paragraph of your cover letter. You’ve spent most of your cover letter describing why you’re the perfect fit for the role, so now it’s time to bring up money.

Don’t let your salary requirements take up more than one or two lines. If you’re offered the job but the salary is less than you expected, you can discuss it further after the interview, or in a counter offer letter.

Here are three examples of how to word salary expectations politely in your cover letter that you can reference: