4 Ways To Respond to a Lowball Salary Offer [Sample Emails] - Salarship (2024)

While receiving a lowball salary offer can be discouraging, it’s important to remember that this is a common negotiation tactic employers use. Fortunately, there are four ways to respond to a lowball salary offer:

1. The Diplomat: Be polite but insist on your salary expectations.
2. The Strategist: Ask for time to consider the offer.
3. The Negotiator: Ask for compensating benefits.
4. The Gambler: Respectfully decline the offer.

In this article, we’ll discuss how to respond to a lowball salary offer, along with sample emails that you can use as a reference. So, let’s get started!

1. The Diplomat: Be Polite, But Insist on Your Salary Expectations

Many employers simply give a low offer knowing that there’s a possibility you’ll accept. If you do, good for them (not so good for you). If you don’t, you will have to justify your salary.

Many candidates accept lowball offers, thinking that their salary will somehow increase in the future. That’s simply not true; according to Investopedia, the average salary increase is 3% per year. So if you accept a lowball offer that’s 20% below your expectations, you will need at least a decade to make up for it.

The way you insist on your desired salary will make a huge difference. Start off by expressing your gratitude. Once you’ve said thanks, explain why your desired salary is reasonable based on market standards, experience, and qualifications.

Take a look at this sample email.

Sample Email – Insisting on Your Desired Salary

Dear (Hiring Manager),

Thank you for the offer. I am deeply honored that you think I’m a good fit for the job.

I would be delighted to join the company immediately, but for one concern.

Unfortunately, the offer of (salary) is below the range that I can reasonably accept. While I understand that you may have budget limitations, I know that my desired salary range of (give your salary expectation) falls within market standards.

I am also certain that I am able to meet and exceed your expectations for this role because (state your experience and qualifications).

If you are willing to set a salary within my desired range, please let me know. I would love to discuss this further.

Sincerely,

See Also

How to Counter Offer in a Salary NegotiationHow to negotiate a higher salary after a job offerHow to Decline a Job Offer Due to Salary | InHerSightHow to Renegotiate an Offer Lower than You Expected

(Your Name)

What To Expect After Asking for a Better Salary Offer

There’s always the possibility that no matter how well you explain your market value, some employers just can’t give you what you ask.

One main reason for this is that the employer does not have the budget to accommodate your request.When you get this response, don’t take it personally. Keep your cool and respond to the hiring manager by saying that you respect their decision.

If the hiring manager thinks you’re too good to pass up, chances are they will increase their offer to meet your desired salary range. Moreover, they most likely have a good idea of market standards, so insisting on a range that matches that will tell them that you understand the industry and know what you’re worth.

2. The Strategist: Ask for More Time To Consider the Offer

If you are pretty sure about your chances of getting the job, don’t hesitate to ask for more time to consider your options. If they don’t have any other candidate in mind, temporizing is a great way to put pressure on the employer.

Asking for more time indicates that:

• You’re not particularly pleased with the offer you received. Don’t forget to mention the low salary as a reason. However, whether they give you a counteroffer is entirely up to them.
• You may have other opportunities. Recruiters understand that you may not have put all your eggs in one basket.

Make sure you work within the timeline you’re given. They are probably talking to other candidates, so if you stretch the wait time too far, they may not be as willing to hear what you have to say anymore.

Note that if you have other job offers, they are not confidential, and you can mention them in your email.

Sample Email – Pressure the Employer by Asking for More Time

Dear (Hiring Manager),

Thank you for the offer. I am deeply honored that you think I’m a good fit for the job.

Unfortunately, since the offer is below my desired salary range of (salary range), I would like to request (number) days to consider the offer carefully and weigh my options before finally making a decision.

I will inform you of my decision by (date).

Sincerely,

(Your Name)

What To Expect From the Employer After Asking for Time

When you’ve asked for time to consider the offer, there are two possible outcomes:

• The employer won’t budge about the offer and simply wait for your decision. If the employer has other candidates in mind, they will simply ignore your message and contact other candidates.
• The employer will respond by offering you a higher salary. If your hoped-for outcome occurs, respond as soon as you can. Express your gratitude, but also make sure that your and your employer’s expectations are aligned.

Sometimes, employers will increase their offer while making specific demands, such as widening the job scope or adding job functions. Make sure to set everything straight so you don’t get shortchanged in the end.

3. The Negotiator: Ask for Compensating Benefits

If you’re aware that budgetary limitations govern the employer’s decision to offer you a salary below your expectation, insisting on your desired salary may not work. Thankfully, though, it doesn’t have to mean that negotiations are closed.

One of the ways you can try to make up for the lack of monetary compensation is by negotiating for perks and benefits. These perks can be anything from stock options to getting a company car, a flexible work schedule, more vacation days, and being allowed to work from home.

You can be as creative (but reasonable) as you want. And when you have made up your mind on what benefits you want, pitch your idea to the hiring manager as soon as you can.

Here’s an example of how you can do that.

Sample Email – Asking for Benefits

Dear (Hiring Manager),

Thank you for the offer. I am deeply honored that you think I’m a good fit for the job.

Unfortunately, the offer of (salary) is below my desired salary range.

However, I understand that you may be constrained by budget limitations. Because of this, I would like to request some benefits to compensate for the salary offer, namely (state your desired benefits).

I am confident that this arrangement will help make for a mutually beneficial working relationship.

I look forward to hearing back from you!

Sincerely,

(Your Name)

What To Expect From the Employer – Negotiating for Other Benefits

When you ask for certain perks or benefits, there are three possible outcomes:

• You get all of the benefits you asked for.
• You get some of the benefits you asked for. Another outcome you may expect is that your employer could approve some of the benefits you requested but not all. In this case, you have to weigh whether the ones they decided to forego are perks you can do away with.
• The employer denies your request. If your employer can’t make special arrangements for you and the salary is way below your expectations, don’t be afraid to walk away.

4. The Gambler: Respectfully Decline the Offer

Note that you typically would not want to reject a lowball offer right away because they are rarely the end of the conversation.

However, if you have other offers and want to gamble for a better salary, you may try to turn the offer down. Indicating that you are willing to walk away is a great leverage to use in negotiations.

Here’s how you can renege on a job offer.

Sample Email – Declining the Offer

Dear (Hiring Manager),

Thank you for the offer. I am deeply honored that you think I’m a good fit for the job.

Unfortunately, the offer of (salary) does not meet my desired salary range and falls short of market standards.

While I understand that you may have budget limitations, I also do not think that the offer will fairly compensate for my qualifications and experience.

Nevertheless, I am thankful that you considered my application and wish you and your company success,

Sincerely,

(Your Name)

What To Expect From the Employer – Rejecting the Offer

After telling the hiring manager that you are rejecting the offer, two things can happen:

• They will accept your rejection and move forward. Some hiring managers will acknowledge a rejection of the job offer. Some won’t. Either way, you should also be moving forward on your job hunt.
• They will make a counteroffer. Suppose you have not previously discussed increasing the offer or negotiating other perks and benefits. In that case, the hiring manager may get back to you and propose a higher offer. It may or may not be as high as you’re asking–at least not at first.

The Bottom Line

Getting a lowball salary offer can be frustrating, but more often than not, it’s only the beginning of a conversation that ends with you getting the position you know you deserve. You have to know how to respond, be sure about what you want, and be willing to compromise if necessary.

Don’t be afraid to turn a lowball offer down if you think you’d be selling yourself short. Who knows–turning a lowball offer now may open the door to a much better position in the future.

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