NEGOTIATION SCRIPT
Salary Negotiation Script for Raises, Promotions, and Lowball Offers
The hardest part of salary negotiation is not knowing you want more money. It is saying the number without sounding vague, defensive, or surprised by your own ask.
"I want to review whether my compensation still matches the role I am performing. Since my last compensation review, my scope has grown in [specific responsibility], [business impact], and [operational load]. My current base is [current salary], and comparable roles I am seeing are closer to [target range]. I would like to discuss moving my compensation to [target ask] or setting a written review date with clear conditions for that adjustment."
A script works because it keeps your brain from panic-writing live. Stanford Career Education's salary negotiation scripts emphasize preparing the language before the conversation. The point is not to sound robotic. The point is to avoid shrinking your ask because the room got quiet.
Before you use the script
Do not walk in with only "I deserve more." Bring a clean compensation argument. The Department of Labor salary negotiation guide advises researching salary ranges before negotiating. For internal raises, your research should also include what changed in the job.
- Current base salary and total compensation.
- Target ask and acceptable floor.
- Three scope changes since your last raise.
- Two business impact examples.
- Two or three outside market signals.
- A written fallback if base salary is blocked.
Script for a promotion without a raise
Use this when the title changed, the work changed, or the role got bigger but the paycheck did not move.
"I am excited about the promotion and the larger scope. Before I fully step into it, I want to align on compensation. The new role includes [new scope], [new accountability], and [business impact]. That is meaningfully different from the role my current salary was set for. Can we discuss a salary adjustment to [target ask], or document the review date and conditions for that adjustment?"
For the deeper decision framework, see Promotion Without a Raise.
Script for a lowball offer
A lowball offer is easier to negotiate before you accept. Stay warm, but make the gap clear.
"Thank you for the offer. I am excited about the role and the team. Based on the scope we discussed, my experience, and the market range for comparable roles, I was expecting something closer to [target range]. Is there room to bring the base salary to [target ask]?"
If you are checking an offer before accepting it, use the Lowball Offer Calculator.
If they say no
A no is information. Do not leave with a foggy promise. Leave with a next step.
- Ask what range the role is budgeted for.
- Ask what would need to change to reach your target.
- Ask whether bonus, equity, PTO, title, remote flexibility, or review timing can move.
- Ask for the next review date in writing.
- Decide whether the answer is a delay or a dead end.