Salary negotiation for programmers isn’t much different than any other job.
I ran into this question on Quora, so I started answering it there; this is an extension of that post specifically for programmers.
If an interviewer asks me what I am expecting as my salary, what should I answer?
— Quora
Ask for what you need and fits market rates for your prospective position.
Ask yourself these questions.
- How much money do I need to save for retirement and pay the bills? ( Requirements )
- What do people in my position get paid? ( Market Rate )
- How much do I think I am worth? ( Value )
A little introspection goes a long way. Research is essential to understand what you are worth.
These websites may help you understand your market rate.
Dice
Dice.com has been around since 1990 and is the granddaddy of job search websites. It also has a nifty salary calculator.
Glassdoor
Glassdoor provides the comparable salary of your peers.
Use this information to set your price.
LinkedIn is the defacto site for professionals. If you’re not on LinkedIn, I recommend joining immediately. It will help boost your salary by giving you new opportunities and connections. It has a salary calculator along with the other websites.
Set Your Price
Once you know your price, set your price a little higher, but use your best judgment. Ideally, the job listing provides a salary range. Otherwise, employ your soft skills and use data to guess a prospective employer’s compensation. If you’re changing roles, accepting a lower price may be worthwhile.
Hold Your Cards
Avoid telling a prospective employer what your desired salary.
Be Honest
Be honest and set your price with confidence. If you feel like you’re not worthy, ask yourself why. Dig deep and seek to understand why you feel deficient. It’s not easy to keep the imposter monster at bay. If we’re honest with ourselves, we all fake it until we make it. However, we can
For Programmers
Programmers are fortunate that their profession is in high demand. Know your skills, boost your skills, keep learning as much as you can. Be a sponge, commit to continuous improvement, and learn what you love.
Find your sweet spot where you deliver unique value with passion. You’ll earn more as a programmer with a focus on growth opportunities, promotion opportunities, and appropriate compensation. I’ve always factored work-life balance into my overall compensation, so don’t forget must-have attributes like that!
Don’t forget your soft skills or technical skills! Find the right balance between being a great human being and a software development professional.