How to negotiate salary politely, with scripts and a sample email
How to negotiate salary after a job offer: find the going rate, what to say on the call, a sample email, and examples in pesos, ringgit and SGD.
8 min read. Updated . By Catalyst Outsourcing.
The job offer came in, and the pay is lower than you hoped. Asking for more feels risky, as if they might take the whole offer back.
A polite, specific ask is a normal part of getting hired. Whitman College's career centre says many employers expect you to negotiate, and that the best time is after the offer arrives and before you accept it. Here are the words for each step, for an office job or a remote one.
How to ask for a day to think it over
You don't have to answer on the spot. Indeed's guide suggests taking 24 to 48 hours before you accept, turn down or counter an offer. Say thank you first, then ask for two things: time, and the offer in writing.
"Thank you, I'm really glad to get this offer. Could I have until Thursday to look it over? And could you send the details by email, so I have the pay, hours and start date in one place?"
If the offer came on a call or in a chat, the written version matters. Indeed says to ask for a verbal offer in writing, and Whitman says to get the final offer in writing before you formally accept.
How to know what to ask for
Before you name a number, find out what the job usually pays. Look at three or four live posts for the same role at a similar level, and skip the ones that only say "competitive".
Then write down three numbers before you talk to anyone.
- Your minimum: the lowest pay you'd still say yes to. Work it out from your monthly costs and what you earn now.
- Your target: what the going rate says the job is worth for someone with your experience.
- Your ask: a little above your target. Indeed's tip is to ask for slightly more than your goal, so that if they meet you in the middle, you still land where you wanted.
If one job pays by the hour and another by the month, turn both into the same unit first. Our guide on how to answer "what is your expected salary" shows the quick sum.
Examples in pesos, ringgit and Singapore dollars
These are made-up examples with invented names, to show the method. Your numbers will be different.
- Example 1, Ana, admin assistant in Cebu: the offer is PHP 25,000 a month. Similar posts she found pay PHP 27,000 to 32,000. Her minimum is PHP 27,000, her target PHP 30,000, and she asks for PHP 31,000.
- Example 2, Farah, account assistant in Kuala Lumpur: the offer is MYR 2,800 a month. Similar posts pay MYR 3,000 to 3,500. Her minimum is MYR 3,000, her target MYR 3,200, and she asks for MYR 3,400.
- Example 3, Mark, remote social media VA in Davao: a Singapore client offers SGD 5 an hour for 20 hours a week. With two years of client work behind him, he asks for SGD 6.50, about SGD 563 a month at those hours.
Each of them asks for a number that similar jobs already pay, and each has a reason ready for it.
What to say when you negotiate, word for word
If you can, have this talk on a call; Indeed says a back-and-forth lets you thank them and explain your reasons as you go through the four moves below.
- Thank them, and say what you like about the job. "Thanks again for the offer. I'm excited about handling your inbox and calendar."
- Ask, with one reason. "Based on what similar roles pay and my two years of admin work, I was hoping for [your ask]. Is there room to move on the salary?"
- Stop talking and let them answer. Indeed warns that nerves show up as over-explaining or apologising for the request.
- If they hesitate, ask a question instead of backing down. Indeed suggests "What is the budget for this position based on?" or "Are there other negotiables available besides salary?"
They may ask if you have other offers, or if they're your top choice. Answer honestly and keep it short: "This is the job I want. The salary is the one thing I'd like to settle first."
How to ask for a higher offer by email (sample included)
A lot of remote offers arrive by email or chat, and negotiating there is fine too. Keep it short: thanks, your number, one or two reasons, and a line that says you want the job. Copy the email below and put your own details in the brackets.
Subject: [Job title] offer: a question about the salary
Hi [Name],
Thank you for the offer for the [job title] role. I'm excited about the work, especially [one thing from the job post].
Before I accept, I'd like to talk about the salary. From similar roles I've looked at, and with my [number] years of [type of work], I was hoping for [your ask] [per hour or per month]. In my current job I [one result with a number, such as "answer about 60 customer emails a day"].
Is there room to adjust the offer? I'm happy to talk on a call if that's easier.
Thanks again,
[Your name]
For a chat message on WhatsApp, Viber or Slack, cut it down: "Thanks so much for the offer! Before I say yes, could we talk about the rate? From similar roles and my two years of admin work, I was hoping for [your ask]. Is there room on that?"
What to do with a low offer
Sometimes the answer is "this is our budget". Then ask for something else that's worth money to you. Indeed and Whitman both list things to ask for when the salary can't move:
- A pay review in writing, six months in.
- A sign-on bonus.
- A few more days of paid leave each year.
- More work-from-home days, or a flexible schedule.
If the final offer is still below your minimum, it's fine to say no politely. Indeed's last tip is not to be afraid to walk away. "Thank you for working on this with me. I can't make this salary work, so I'll have to decline, but I'd be glad to hear from you about future roles."
Mistakes that cost you money when you negotiate
- Saying yes on the spot, before you've checked the going rate.
- Making it about what you need, like rent or a loan. Whitman's advice is to keep the talk on your value and what you'll do in the job.
- Giving a number with no unit: "thirty" means nothing until you say pesos or dollars, per hour or per month.
- Accepting a verbal offer without seeing it in writing.
- Paying any fee to get the job. A fee to start, for training or to "release" your first salary is a scam sign, whatever they call it. Read how to spot legit work from home jobs.
Negotiating pay for a remote job with an overseas client
The steps are the same, with four differences.
- Use their currency and unit. If the client pays SGD by the hour, ask in SGD by the hour, so they can hold your number up against their budget.
- Count what reaches your account. Transfer and conversion fees come off before the money lands, so check what each payout method costs in our guide on how to get paid by overseas clients.
- Ask how often you're paid, and by which method, before you sign anything.
- Ask about the hours as well as the rate. A good rate on a graveyard shift can be worth less to you than a slightly lower one in daylight.
It's free to apply to roles on the DayShift job board. Once you're in the job, our guide on how to ask for a raise picks up from there.
Questions
Can a company take back a job offer if I negotiate?
It can happen. Still, a polite ask with a reason is a normal part of hiring, and Whitman's career centre says many employers expect it. Be warm. Say you want the job, and ask once.
How much more should I ask for?
There's no fixed percentage. Ask a little above the going rate you found for your role and experience, and make sure your minimum is still a number you'd accept.
Should I negotiate by email or on a call?
Either works. Indeed says a call is more effective because you can talk it through, but email is fine, and for many remote jobs it's where the offer arrives.
Do I have to negotiate every time?
No. If the offer already matches the going rate and your target, you can just say yes. Whitman notes that even a small increase can make a real difference early in your career.
Sources
- Indeed, How To Negotiate Salary After a Job Offer (With 13 Tips), https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/pay-salary/how-to-negotiate-salary, read 7 October 2026
- Whitman College, Salary Negotiation, https://www.whitman.edu/career-prep/career-and-community-engagement-center/career-development/resources-for-job-seekers/salary-negotiation, read 7 October 2026