Counter offer salary email with a competing offer
Short answer
Lead with the role you want, then give one concrete sentence with the competing company and base number, and ask them to close the gap to a specific target. Don't ask for a vague "more" — name the number. Don't threaten to walk. The recruiter needs a defensible figure to take upstairs; give them exactly that.
You're here because
- You have two real offers and need the salary email written right
- You know the number you want but not how to ask for it
- You're worried that naming the competing salary sounds aggressive
- You have a deadline and you're staring at a blank reply
The exact salary email to send
Hi [HIRING_MANAGER],
Thank you again for the offer to join [COMPANY] as [ROLE]. I want to be clear up front: this is the role I want — [SPECIFIC_REASON].
I also have a written offer from [OTHER_COMPANY] at $[OTHER_BASE] base. The roles are comparable, and that puts [COMPANY]'s offer about $[GAP] lower.
Would you be able to bring the base to $[TARGET]? If base is constrained, a signing bonus of $[SIGNING] would close the same gap and works just as well for me.
I'd like to give [OTHER_COMPANY] an answer by [DATE], so anything you can share before then would help me say yes to you cleanly.
Thanks,
[YOUR_NAME]
How to set the number ([TARGET])
- If you want to match: set [TARGET] to the competing base. Easiest to justify.
- If you want more than both: anchor to the competing offer, then justify the extra with market data or scope — don't ask for more "just because" the competing offer exists.
- If base is capped: convert the gap into a signing bonus or equity. A $10K gap is often easier to close as a one-time $10K signing than as base.
- Built for mid-negotiation use, inside a 24–72 hour window.
- The wording is built to be specific and calm — not a bluff.
- Designed for people who don't negotiate often.
- Real workplace register — not internet bravado.
An illustrative example
Preferred offer: $140K base. Competing offer: $155K base. They sent the email above with [TARGET] = $155K. The recruiter couldn't match base exactly but came back with $150K base + a $10K signing bonus. Net year-one comp matched the competing offer, and they took the role they actually wanted.
What NOT to say
- "I need you to beat $155K or I'm out." Ultimatums kill goodwill instantly.
- "I have a higher offer somewhere." Vague = bluff. Name the number.
- Inflating the competing number. If they verify and it's off, you lose the whole negotiation.
- Asking for the increase with no anchor and no preference stated.
The real risk
The danger isn't naming a number — it's the tone and the truth. A real, specific, "I prefer your role" email rarely gets pulled; recruiters expect a counter and need a number to escalate. What backfires is an ultimatum or a number that doesn't hold up. Send it once, honestly, and you keep both the relationship and a real choice.
Related reads
FAQ
How much higher should I ask when I have a competing offer?
Anchor to the competing number, not a percentage. Ask them to match or close the gap to the competing base, or to add a signing bonus that nets the same. Asking for more than the competing offer needs a separate justification like scope or market data.
Should I put the exact competing salary in the email?
Yes. A specific number ($120,000 base) is defensible and gives the recruiter something concrete to take to a comp committee. Vague phrasing like "a higher offer elsewhere" reads as a bluff.
What if the competing offer is for a different role?
Say so. "The roles aren't identical, but the base is $X." Recruiters respect an honest comparison far more than a forced one, and it protects you if they ask follow-up questions.