How to Talk Salary During the Job Search

“I’m fine with whatever they offer me.”

That’s what a jobseeker recently told me as we sourced candidates for one of our environmental nonprofit clients. She was a fantastic fit: skilled at navigating complex orgs, had the exact prior experience the organization needed, and she was a strong communicator.

But she hesitated to talk salary.

When you’ve been job hunting for a while, it’s easy to think, “I’ll take anything.” But underselling yourself doesn’t help you, or the organization long-term. That’s why I always encourage job seekers to talk about salary early and strategically in their cover letter.

If there’s a posted range and your skills and experiences are an exact fit, mention that your background aligns with the top of that range (and back up why.)  If the salary seems low for the scope of the job, flag that too. You could say something like:

"I noticed the posted salary is X, but roles with similar scope typically fall closer to Y. I’m open to a conversation, but wanted to raise it early so we’re aligned."

This kind of transparency isn’t pushy. Hiring teams appreciate it because no one wants to get all the way to the offer stage and realize the numbers are too far apart. If the organization can’t meet your expectations, better to find that out early. It shows confidence, alignment, and respect for the process.

Remember, negotiating isn’t a demand. It’s just a normal part of the process.