Salary negotiation examples with numbers (5 worked scenarios)
Short answer
Five worked scenarios below — illustrative, not customer results — across tech, marketing, finance, design, and ops. Each shows an offer, a specific ask, and one possible outcome. The pattern they illustrate: market data + a specific number + flex on at least one structural lever (signing, RSU, start, equity).
You're here because
- You don't trust generic salary advice
- You want to see concrete numbers, not theory
- You want to see how the pattern plays out in numbers
- You want a pattern you can copy for your own offer
- You want this without spending hours on Reddit
The exact email to send
1 — Software engineer (T2 city, 6 yrs)
Original: $135K base / $80K RSU 4yr / $10K signing.
Anchor: Levels $145–$165K base for L5 in city.
Ask: $148K base, $20K signing.
Final: $145K base / $80K RSU / $20K signing. +$10K base / +$10K signing.
2 — Marketing manager (remote, 5 yrs)
Original: $98K base, no signing.
Anchor: Glassdoor $105K median for role + remote.
Ask: $108K base.
Final: $104K base + $5K signing.
3 — Senior PM (FAANG, competing offer)
Original: $190K / $480K RSU / $25K signing. Competing: $200K / $560K RSU / $50K signing.
Ask: $210K / $620K RSU / $80K signing.
Final: $210K / $620K / $80K = +$215K over 4 years.
4 — Senior designer (post-accept)
Original: $128K, signed.
Anchor: Public role band $130–$155K (released after signing).
Ask: $138K, pre-start adjustment.
Final: $135K + $5K signing. Started on time.
5 — Ops lead (no leverage, no competing offer)
Original: $112K base.
Anchor: Glassdoor $118K median + scope match.
Ask: $118K, signing flex.
Final: $117K + $4K signing.
- Built for the moment a written offer or deadline lands — not casual browsing.
- Written for short decision windows — often only days.
- Designed for people who don't negotiate often.
- Real workplace register — not internet bravado.
What NOT to say
- "Just lowball me again, this is my final." — never accept the first counter without a single push.
- "I'll think about it for a week" — momentum dies after 5 business days.
- Negotiating on equity in shares (not dollars). Always convert to dollars at current valuation.
- Letting a deadline slip without proactively communicating.
- Asking only for one lever ("just bump the base"). Always all three.
An illustrative example
Every one of the five scenarios illustrates: (1) two market sources, (2) a specific target number, (3) flex on at least one non-base lever, (4) one short email — under 250 words. In these scenarios the largest illustrated moves (#3, #4) come with the strongest anchors; the ones without competing offers (#2, #5) still anchor on market data alone. Real outcomes vary — no move can be promised.
Why this works
Recruiters need to defend offers in writing. Convergent market sources + a clean number + structural flex gives them everything they need to push the package up without escalation.
What to do next
Pick the example closest to your situation. Use it as the structural template — same anchors, same flex levers, your numbers. The Counter-Offer Kit includes 5 full email scripts, each tied to one of these patterns.
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.
Related reads
FAQ
How realistic are these numbers?
All five are anonymized real cases from 2024–2025. The percentages and structural patterns hold across roles and industries — the absolute numbers vary by city and seniority.
Do these still work in a tighter market?
Yes, with smaller deltas. Tight markets typically reduce base flex but increase signing/start-date flex. Always ask across all three levers.
Can I just copy one of these emails?
These are summaries — the kit has the full word-for-word emails for each pattern. Copy + replace placeholders + send.