Counter-offer email template — a real example with dollar amounts

Last updated: April 2026 · 6 min read · Based on a real negotiation

Most "counter-offer email templates" online are generic filler. This is a real example — with a real offer, real market data, real phrasing, and a real outcome. You can copy, swap the details, and send it tonight.

The setup

A senior software engineer received an offer from a mid-size SaaS company. Here are the actual numbers:

Offered base salary: $120,000
Target base salary: $135,000
Market data (Levels.fyi + Glassdoor): $125,000–$145,000 for the role, city, and experience level
Competing offer: $130,000 base from a competitor (less preferred role)
Deadline to respond: 4 business days

The candidate had never formally negotiated. They were nervous about "sounding greedy" or "losing the offer." They sent the email below.

The exact email sent

Subject: Re: Offer for Senior Engineer Position

Hi Sarah,

Thank you for the offer to join Acme as a Senior Software Engineer. I'm genuinely excited about the team, the product direction, and the chance to contribute to the platform re-architecture work we discussed.

Before I accept, I'd like to revisit compensation. Based on market data from Levels.fyi and Glassdoor for Senior Engineers in Austin with my 6+ years of experience in backend systems and platform infrastructure, the current range is $125K–$145K. I'm also considering a competing opportunity at $130,000 base.

With that in mind, I'd like to discuss moving the base to $135,000. This would reflect both the market rate and the scope of the role we discussed (owning the platform team's roadmap and mentoring two junior engineers).

I'm flexible on the structure — happy to discuss a signing bonus, equity adjustment, or other components if base is constrained. Acme is my first choice, and I'd love to find a number that works for both of us.

Would a 15-minute call tomorrow work to align?

Thanks,
[Your Name]

Why this email works (line by line)

1. Open with genuine enthusiasm

"I'm genuinely excited…" anchors the email in a positive frame before introducing the ask. Recruiters read hundreds of "can you match X" emails that start with the demand — this one signals the candidate is serious about joining, not bluffing.

2. Frame the ask as "revisit" not "renegotiate"

"Revisit compensation" is soft, professional, and doesn't put the recruiter on the defensive. "Renegotiate" signals confrontation.

3. Use two sources of market data

One source looks cherry-picked. Two sources (Levels.fyi + Glassdoor) signal rigor. A competing offer is a third anchor — even if it's not your top choice, it creates legitimate pressure without sounding like a threat.

4. Specify a number, not a range

"$135,000" is answerable. "Somewhere in the $130–$140K range" forces the recruiter to pick the lowest. Always name a specific target — recruiters will often anchor the counter near it.

5. Justify the number with scope

Tying the number to responsibilities discussed in the interview ("owning the roadmap, mentoring two juniors") makes the ask feel earned, not arbitrary.

6. Open the door to flex

"Happy to discuss signing bonus, equity, or other components" tells the recruiter: there is more than one path to yes. That's critical if base is capped — most offers have flex somewhere.

7. Close with commitment + call

"Acme is my first choice" removes any doubt about intent. The 15-minute call request moves the conversation off email, where nuance gets lost.

The actual outcome

What happened next

The recruiter replied within 18 hours. The final offer: $132,000 base + $8,000 signing bonus. That's +$12,000 base and +$8,000 cash, for a total first-year gain of $20,000 over the original offer. Over a 5-year tenure with typical 4% raises, that compounds to $65,000+ in additional lifetime earnings — from one email that took 12 minutes to write.

What to change when you adapt this

Role / seniority: swap "Senior Software Engineer" for your title
Sources: use the sources that match your industry (Levels.fyi for tech, Robert Half for finance, Salary.com for general roles)
Competing offer: only mention if it's real; otherwise say "based on what I've seen from other companies at this stage"
Scope hook: name something specific from the interview — a project, a team, a KPI
Flex menu: tailor this to what matters to you (remote work, PTO, equity, signing bonus)

What not to do

Don't apologize ("I hate to bring this up, but…")
Don't use ultimatums ("I need $135K or I'll take the other offer")
Don't give a range instead of a number
Don't negotiate by text or DM — always a proper email thread
Don't negotiate before you have the written offer in hand

Before you send — quick check

Do you know your walk-away number?
Do you have a Levels.fyi or market band to anchor to?
Do you have a 3-business-day deadline written in?

If you answered "not sure" to any of these, the Counter-Offer Kit walks you through all three.

Next step: 4 more scripts for every negotiation scenario

This is Script #1 from the Counter-Offer Kit. The kit also includes a competing-offer email, a benefits-only script, a timeline-extension email, and a graceful-acceptance script — plus a salary research cheatsheet.

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