When a job application asks for desired salary, give a range. If forced to a single number, give the top of your range.

The format

  • Range allowed: "$120K-$150K" — bottom slightly above your walk-away.
  • Single number forced: Give the top of your researched range.
  • "Negotiable" field: Acceptable but provides no anchor. Give a number if you can.
  • Optional field: Skip if you'd rather defer the conversation.

How to research

  • Glassdoor — broad data, slightly noisy.
  • Levels.fyi — best for tech roles. Real submitted offers.
  • Pave — accurate compensation data, increasingly available.
  • Your network — ask 1-2 people in similar roles.

Pull data for:

  • The specific role and level
  • Your location (or the role's location)
  • The company size / stage

What to write

Bad:

  • "Negotiable" (no anchor; lazy)
  • Wildly low number (anchors them down)
  • Wildly high number without research (filters you out)

Good:

  • A range with bottom slightly above your walk-away
  • A single number at the top of your researched range, if forced

What if your range is wrong

If the role pays $80-100K and you ask for $150K, you'll get filtered out. If the role pays $150K and you ask for $80K, they'll happily anchor you there.

Research before you write.

Why companies ask early

  • Filter out candidates whose ranges are way off.
  • Establish an anchor for negotiation.
  • Compliance in some states (CO, CA, etc., require salary ranges from employers).

The right time to negotiate

After the offer, not on the application. Use the application field to stay in the running; use the offer call to negotiate the actual number.

More on offer negotiation.

What if you don't know the market

Default to "Negotiable" or skip the field. Don't guess wildly. The cost of a wrong number is higher than the cost of an open field.

The bigger pattern

The desired salary field is a small step. The big leverage is having multiple offers. With one offer, you negotiate solo; with two, you have real options.

Sorce auto-applies to 5M+ jobs — 40 free swipes a day. More offers, more leverage, more options on what to write in the salary field.

For more: how to negotiate salary, how to bargain salary, how to fill out a job application.