WORKPLACE SCENARIO

Salary Negotiation

Negotiate your salary confidently in English. Get proven phrases, a full negotiation script, pronunciation tips, and strategies for asking for a raise.

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When You'll Face This Scenario

Negotiating your salary in English is intimidating even for native speakers — for non-native speakers, the stakes feel even higher. Whether you're negotiating an initial job offer, asking for an annual raise, or discussing a promotion package, having the right phrases ready makes the difference between an awkward conversation and a confident one. This guide gives you field-tested language for every phase of the negotiation, from expressing enthusiasm to making your counter-offer.

Step-by-Step Guide & Phrases

1

Expressing gratitude and enthusiasm for the offer

“Thank you so much for extending the offer — I'm genuinely excited about this opportunity.”— Responding to an initial job offer
“I really appreciate the team taking the time to put this together.”— After receiving a written offer
“Thanks for this! I'm thrilled about the role and looking forward to digging into the details.”— Informal or startup settings
2

Requesting time to review the offer

“I'd like to take a day or two to review the full package carefully before responding.”— Standard practice for any offer
“Would it be alright if I took the weekend to go over everything?”— Buying yourself time
“Can I sleep on it and get back to you tomorrow?”— When you have a good rapport with the hiring manager
3

Presenting your counter-offer with data

“Based on my research and the market rate for similar roles in this region, I was hoping we could explore a base salary closer to $X.”— Anchoring with external data
“Given my experience and the scope of this role, I feel a salary in the range of $X to $Y would be more aligned.”— Providing a range
“I love the role, and I want to make this work — can we look at bumping the base to around $X?”— Direct but friendly
“I've seen comparable positions at companies like [Company] and [Company] offering $X, so I'd like to discuss matching that.”— Using competing offers as leverage
4

Handling pushback gracefully

“I completely understand the budget constraints. Could we explore other forms of compensation, like a signing bonus or additional PTO?”— Pivoting to non-salary benefits
“That makes sense. What about revisiting the salary after six months based on performance?”— Proposing a performance-based review
“Fair enough — is there any flexibility on the equity side?”— Startup or tech environments
5

Closing the negotiation positively

“I'm confident we can find a number that works for both of us. Thank you for being so open to this conversation.”— Maintaining a collaborative tone
“This has been a really productive conversation. I'm excited to move forward.”— Wrapping up after agreement
“Awesome, I'm really happy with where we landed. Can't wait to get started!”— After reaching agreement

Tone & Body Language

Full Conversation Script

YO
YouHi Sarah, thank you again for the offer — I'm genuinely excited about joining the team.
MA
ManagerWe're excited too! Did you have a chance to review everything?
YO
YouI did, and I really appreciate the comprehensive package. I wanted to discuss the base salary, though.
MA
ManagerSure, what are you thinking?
YO
YouBased on my research and conversations with peers in similar roles, the market rate in our area is closer to $95,000. I was hoping we could explore something in that range.
MA
ManagerI hear you. Unfortunately, our budget for this level is capped at $88,000 for the base.
YO
YouI understand the constraints. Would there be flexibility on a signing bonus or an early performance review at six months?
MA
ManagerA signing bonus might be possible — let me check with the team and get back to you.
YO
YouThat would be wonderful. I want to make this work because I'm truly excited about the role and the team.
MA
ManagerGreat attitude. I'll follow up by Wednesday. Thanks for being so open about this.

Pronunciation Traps

Word❌ Common Error✅ CorrectTip
negotiateneh-GO-shee-aytnih-GOH-shee-aytFirst syllable uses a short 'i' sound, not 'eh'
compensationcom-pen-SAY-shuncom-puhn-SAY-shnSecond syllable has a schwa, and the ending is reduced
salarySAH-lah-reeSAL-uh-reeShort 'a' in the first syllable, schwa in the second
competitivecom-PEH-tih-tivkuhm-PET-uh-tivFirst syllable starts with a schwa 'kuhm'
benefitsBEN-eh-fitsBEN-uh-fitsMiddle syllable is a quick schwa, not a full 'eh'

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake“Accepting the first offer without any discussion”
Fix“Almost every employer expects a negotiation. Politely expressing that you'd like to discuss the number is standard and expected.”
Mistake“Apologizing for negotiating (e.g., 'Sorry to ask, but...')”
Fix“Drop the apology. Instead, say 'I'd love to discuss the compensation package' — it's direct and professional.”
Mistake“Giving a single number without a range”
Fix“Provide a range based on market data. Saying '$90,000 to $100,000' gives both parties room to negotiate.”

Common Questions

How do I negotiate salary in English as a non-native speaker?
Prepare your key phrases in advance and practice saying them aloud. Focus on clarity over speed — speaking slowly and confidently makes a stronger impression than rushing through perfect grammar.
What if the employer says the salary is non-negotiable?
Pivot to other parts of the package: signing bonus, stock options, remote work flexibility, professional development budget, or an early performance review with a raise tied to it.
Is it rude to negotiate salary in English-speaking cultures?
Not at all — in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, salary negotiation is expected and respected. Employers often leave room in their initial offer specifically for this discussion.

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