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//// Career · Compensation

Salary Negotiation Calculator

Know your market rate, build your negotiation range, and get a ready-to-use counter-offer script — all in 60 seconds.

SE Tax Rate15.3%
QBI Deduction20%
Quarterly DeadlinesApr · Jun · Sep · Jan

Your Situation

Market Rate — Software / Tech · Remote · Mid (3–5 yrs)

median
you
$98,000$115,000 median$138,000

Based on 5 yrs exp · Software / Tech · Remote (CoL 1.00×)

Market Median
$115,000
Mid (3–5 yrs)
Your Target Ask
$90,000
+20% from current
Total Comp Est.
$100,700
salary + benefits
Stretch Ask
$103,000
+15% above target

Floor

$98,000

Minimum acceptable

Target

$90,000

Your primary ask

Stretch

$103,000

Open high here

Counter-Offer Script

Based on my 5 years of experience in Software / Tech and the market rate for this role in Remote, I'm targeting $90,000. I'm excited about this opportunity and flexible on structure — is there room to get to $90,000?

Adapt this to your voice. Never email a counter — say it in person or on a call.

Key Talking Points

  • →Market rate for your experience band in Remote: $98,000 – $138,000
  • →You are currently at 65% of market median
  • →Your ask represents a 20% increase from your current comp
  • →Total comp at target (salary + benefits): ~$100,700
1

Experience band determination

years < 3 → entry | < 6 → mid | < 12 → senior | ≥ 12 → lead

5 years → "mid" band

= Mid (3–5 yrs)

2

National market base salary

MARKET_BASE[software][mid]

Industry: Software / Tech, Band: mid

= $115,000

National median from aggregated compensation survey data

3

Cost-of-living adjustment

marketMedian = nationalBase × coLMultiplier

$115,000 × 1.00 = $115,000

= $115,000

Remote CoL multiplier: 1.00×

4

Market range (±15% / +20% of median)

min = median × 0.85 | max = median × 1.20

$115,000 × 0.85 = $98,000 | × 1.20 = $138,000

= $98,000 – $138,000

5

Floor ask (min of current +5% or market min)

floorAsk = max(currentSalary × 1.05, marketMin)

max($75,000 × 1.05, $98,000) = $98,000

= $98,000

6

Stretch ask (+15% above target)

stretchAsk = targetAsk × 1.15

$90,000 × 1.15 = $103,000

= $103,000

7

Benefits estimate (health + 401k match)

annualBenefits = $8,000 + (targetSalary × 3%)

$8,000 + ($90,000 × 3%) = $10,700

= $10,700

Rough estimate: health insurance ~$8k + typical 401k match ~3% of salary

8

Total compensation at target

totalComp = targetSalary + annualBenefitsValue

$90,000 + $10,700 = $100,700

= $100,700

9

Percent increase from current

pctIncrease = (targetAsk - currentSalary) / currentSalary × 100

($90,000 - $75,000) / $75,000 × 100

= 20.0%

Key insight

At 5 years in Software / Tech in Remote, the market median is $115,000. Your target of $90,000 represents 20% above your current salary — opening at $103,000 gives you room to land on your target.

#ShowYourWork

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