Salary Negotiation Counter Offer Calculator
Enter the initial offer plus the market 50th and 75th percentile for the role. The tool returns a recommended counter number with clear reasoning based on how far the offer sits below market.
What Is a Counter Offer?
A counter offer is the number you ask for after the employer's first written offer. Almost every employer expects some negotiation and builds 5-20% room into the first number, yet most candidates accept immediately. This tool converts market data and your offer into a specific counter so you go into the conversation with a defensible figure instead of a guess.
How the Recommendation Works
If the offer is less than 105% of the market median (50th percentile), the tool recommends countering at roughly 95% of the 75th percentile — a strong but credible ask backed by market data. If the offer already beats that threshold, it recommends countering at about 110% of the offer itself, because you have less leverage from market data and more leverage from the employer's clear interest in you.
How to Use Market Percentiles
Pull 50th and 75th percentile numbers from Levels.fyi, Glassdoor, LinkedIn Salary Insights, Payscale, or Bureau of Labor Statistics data for your exact title, level, and city. The 50th percentile is the market median — half of peers earn more, half earn less. The 75th percentile is the strong-performer band and is the right anchor for a candidate the company actively wants to hire.
Scripts You Can Use
Try: "Thank you for the offer. Based on market data for this role in [city] and my experience with [specific skill], I was targeting [counter number]. Is there room to move closer to that?" Keep the tone collaborative — you are solving a problem together, not fighting. Always negotiate in writing when possible so the numbers are unambiguous.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should I counter on a job offer?
If the initial offer is below the market median, counter near the 75th percentile for your role, level, and location. If the offer already exceeds the median, counter at roughly 10% above the offer. Almost every employer has room to move, and reasonable counters rarely blow up offers.
Will the employer rescind the offer if I negotiate?
Extremely rarely. Employers expect negotiation and rescinding an offer over a polite counter would damage their reputation. The risk is close to zero as long as the counter is reasonable, backed by market data, and delivered respectfully.
Where can I find market 50th and 75th percentile data?
Levels.fyi is the best source for tech roles. Glassdoor, LinkedIn Salary Insights, Payscale, and Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS cover most roles and locations. Always filter for your exact title, level, and metro area.
Should I negotiate base salary or total comp?
Negotiate base first because it anchors bonuses, future raises, and severance. After that, negotiate signing bonus, equity, and start date. Non-cash items like extra PTO and remote flexibility are often easier to win than base.
What if the recruiter asks for my current salary?
In many US states and cities, asking for salary history is illegal. Redirect with: "I prefer to focus on market rate for this role. Based on my research, I was targeting [range]." Share your desired number, not your history.