Can you negotiate your salary after accepting a job offer?

Salaries

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How to negotiate a salary after accepting a job offer

After verbal acceptance
After writing acceptance
After employment commences

No matter if you are new to the workforce, new to salary negotiation or someone with in-demand skills and experience, when it comes to receiving a job offer, it’s important to avoid making a snap decision.

When receiving multiple job offers, a 2023 Robert Half survey of 1000 workers found 58% would decline a job if the salary didn’t suit them. When you are being offered your dream job for a company you admire or a job title you have been striving for, it is easy to get swept up in the excitement of being offered the job in the first place without considering other options. If you’ve accepted a role straight away, only to regret your choice because the salary is lower than you feel you're worth or are willing to accept, you may feel uncomfortable renegotiating the offer.

Can you negotiate the salary after accepting the job offer, or do you just need to accept that you won’t be earning what you thought and make it work?

Related: How to accept a job offer

This article will help you review what your options are and set out a clear approach for bringing up the salary question again.

While renegotiating after accepting a job offer is generally discouraged, there are scenarios that might warrant revisiting the salary discussion. Examples include:

Significant changes in job requirements

Discovery of new information about industry salary standards, the company's compensation practices, or the market value of your skills

Misunderstandings or errors in the initial negotiation

Internal equity concerns

When you reach out to the company to negotiate after accepting an offer, communicate with the hiring manager the reason for which you would like to discuss again, so they can understand from your point of view and can come with information to help settle the discussion.

Nicole Gorton, workplace expert and director at Robert Half says salary negotiations are becoming more and more common during the hiring process, with cost of living top of mind for workers.

She says, “In an era defined by skills shortages, employers are witnessing a growing frequency of compensation negotiations, where the pursuit of talent meets the constraints of a squeezed marketplace.

"As the demand for top talent continues to outgrow the available supply, organisations are finding themselves reconciling the requirements of their business with those of their employees too. They must entice and retain skilled professionals while navigating the constraints of budgets and company policies. In this environment, compensation negotiations have become a critical tool for both employers and employees.”

When it comes to negotiating after accepting an offer, there is a craft to doing this flawlessly. Firstly, decide whether or not it is a path you want to go down.

If you’re excited about the new challenges the job offers and other company benefits provided, consider whether you are comfortable progressing with the role and negotiating a salary increase down the track once you have had the opportunity to prove yourself.

If you find the salary is a deterrent to you fully investing in the new role and is not a true reflection of the skills and experience you can offer, then negotiating with the hiring manager may be your next step.

If you want to proceed with negotiation after you accepted an offer, you need to consider where you are in the hiring process:

If you’ve not signed a contract or started working at the company, it can be much easier to revisit your salary offer.

Make sure you have the conversation as quickly as possible and before you move any further in the process.

Related: How to decline a job offer

Strengthen your negotiation with examples of how your salary is not in line with standard market rates, or how you will provide more value than your salary reflects.

“I often get asked how to quantify the value someone brings to a company. My first answer is always to focus on accomplishments that have a direct impact on the company's bottom line, that’s what businesses care about first and foremost. If you are not making a significant impact on them, the case to raise your agreed salary doesn’t have strong legs to stand on.

“Continue by demonstrating your unique skills and knowledge that are difficult to replace or find, then, if you have a leadership role or work collaboratively with others, highlight how your actions have positively influenced team performance,” says Nicole.

The further down the line you are with regards to accepting, the higher the chance you start to look like a liability to a new employer.

If the salary is dissatisfactory but you are still interested in the role, this is the riskiest time to raise the topic of salary. The last thing you want to do is start off at the company on the wrong foot or make the hiring manager regret making their decision to hire you.

If you come up against a negative reaction from the employer in response to your salary renegotiation request at this time in the process, it’s important to remain professional and strategic in your approach. Express your understanding of the situation and politely ask if they would be open to reconsidering.

Before going any further, consider whether negotiating a higher salary is worth risking your professional reputation over at this stage. If you are willing to lose the job offer over the salary, then the role itself may not be the right fit.

Negotiating is all in the timing. If you’ve commenced working at the company, it’s highly advisable to avoid negotiating your salary during your probation period.

Instead of negotiating, you could wait for the annual salary reviews (if the company you work for has them). Pull together a pitch that demonstrates exactly how much value you have added to the company since you started.

Related: Tips for starting a new job

If you have weighed up all the information and decided that negotiating is the right thing to do in spite of where you currently are in the hiring process, speak to the person who made the job offer as soon as possible.

Employers will always be eager to get a good deal financially out of the person they hire, so jobseekers should feel empowered to do the same. As the saying goes, 'if you don’t ask, you don't get'.

Give them a call (or email) and be honest about the situation. Explain that you were very excited about being offered the job and the opportunity to work with them, but you accepted the salary while being caught in the moment.

Related: How to ask for a pay rise

You don’t need to go into too much detail, but ensure you provide logical reasons for why you feel the need to re-negotiate the starting salary.

Do your research using Robert Half’s Salary Guide before engaging in such discussions. This will help you establish the value of your current skills and experience, and ensure you’re clear on what you would and wouldn’t be willing to accept.

Treat negotiating a salary after accepting a job offer with great caution.

If you are prepared to be open, honest and allow your new employer to see you are being reasonable, it may make them feel more open to enter back into negotiations if they have such bandwidth.

Be prepared to have your request declined, and take it as a learning curve for your next opportunity to enter a salary negotiation.

Is it worth trying to negotiate my salary after already accepting the offer?

It can be worth trying to negotiate your salary even after accepting an offer, but it requires a delicate approach. If you have gained new information that justifies a higher salary or if your responsibilities have increased, it might be reasonable to reopen the conversation. Approach the negotiation respectfully, clearly explain your reasons, and be prepared for any outcome, including the possibility that the employer may not be open to renegotiating.

What are the potential consequences of trying to negotiate my salary after already accepting the offer?

Negotiating your salary after accepting an offer can have several consequences if approached carelessly. There’s a chance it could create tension with your employer, as they could perceive it as a lack of commitment or professionalism. This could strain your relationship and affect your reputation within the company before starting your job. For these reasons, it is crucial to weigh the risks, considering the company's culture and your unique situation, before making such a move.

How soon should I try to negotiate my salary after accepting an offer?

It's generally best to negotiate your salary before accepting an offer. Once you've accepted, your leverage decreases significantly. If circumstances change or you gain new information shortly after accepting, bring it up as soon as possible.

What are some strong reasons to re-negotiate my salary?

Change in responsibilities

Market rates and new salary ranges

Performance

Skills and experience

What are some talking points to approach the salary negotiation?

What should I do if the hiring manager refused my request to re-negotiate my salary?

What should I do if the hiring manager refused my request to re-negotiate my salary?

If the salary is still within your acceptable range and the overall opportunity is appealing, you might decide to accept the offer as is. Don’t forget to look at the entire package, there might be fantastic benefits included that could help you financially or achieve better work-life balance.

If the salary difference is significant and non-negotiable, it might be best to decline the offer politely. Thank the hiring manager for their time and consideration and explain that the salary doesn't align with your current needs or expectations.

If the company isn't able to budge on salary at the moment, you could also inquire about the possibility of revisiting the salary discussion after a certain period of time, based on your performance or after a set review period.

While salary might be non-negotiable, there might be other aspects of the employment contract that you can negotiate, such as the start date, job title, or specific responsibilities.

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