You're in an interview for your dream job and are asked what your desired salary is. It's not easy to find the right answer to this question! How do you respond correctly? What should you bear in mind when negotiating your salary? And what is an appropriate salary expectation? We give you tips on how to get through your salary negotiation with confidence.

Good Preparation is the Key to a Good Salary Negotiation

Check the Salaries in Your Industry

As with your job interview, your salary negotiation requires good preparation. Find out about the usual salaries in your industry or in your position. This will give you an idea of what salary might be appropriate.

We have researched a few average salaries for you. These are annual salaries (as of March 2024). 

• Construction helper: € 27,300 - € 36,700

• Accountant: € 33,000 - € 47,300

• Electronics technician: € 34,200 - € 48,000

• Graphic designer: € 29,700 - € 41,800

• Waiter: €26,100 - €34,700

• Cook: € 28,300 - € 38,000

• Warehouse worker: €26,500 - €36,200

• Nursing assistant: € 25,900 - € 34,600

• Project manager: € 47,300 - € 65,800

• Cleaner: € 25,000 - € 33,900

• Software developer: €55,000 - €72,250

• Salesperson: €26,200 - €36,200

When defining your own salary range, you should always make sure that the information is up to date. 

Also consider your personal market value. The following factors play a role when it comes to defining your market value:

• Location

• work experience

• Management experience

• level of education

• Hierarchy level

• Skills and knowledge

On this basis, you can define an upper and lower salary limit for yourself.

👉 Workeer tip: If you are working in Germany for the first time, it is not so easy to assess what salary is appropriate. On Workeer, you will therefore always find the salary information in the job advertisement. This will give you an idea of the salary range you can ask for in your salary negotiations and what your employer is prepared to pay.

Prepare Your Arguments

If you have set an upper and lower limit for yourself, you have already come a whole step further. Now you need to think about how to present your salary expectation to your employer. You should be prepared for the fact that your employer will try to negotiate the salary down. To best prepare yourself for the salary negotiation, write down your arguments for the following questions:

• What skills and knowledge do I bring to the table?

• What achievements have I reached so far?

• Do I have any special talents?

• Do I have special personality traits, such as particularly strong intercultural skills?

It is easier to find good arguments if you put yourself in the employer's shoes: What makes me special? What do I bring to the table that is valuable to the employer? What impresses my line manager?

Practice Your Salary Negotiation

In many cultures, it is customary not to talk directly about money. In Germany, however, you are expected to be able to talk openly about your salary. We therefore recommend that you practice your salary negotiation in advance.

To do this, you should first organize your written arguments. Then you can practice presenting them. You can either do this alone in front of the mirror or with friends. The more confident and assured you are going into your salary negotiation, the easier it will be to convince your employer of your desired salary. Embrace it with confidence!

How Do I Negotiate My Salary In a Job Interview?

It is important that you prepare your arguments well for the job interview. But when is the right time to address your salary request? Be patient! Wait for your employer to bring up the subject. This can sometimes only happen at the end of the interview or even in the second interview. 

As soon as you are asked about your desired salary, you can state your upper limit. To present your desired salary in the best possible way, you can formulate a salary range. Ideally, you directly state the arguments you prepared for the negotiation. This shows that you have thought about it and makes it harder for your employer to negotiate your salary down.

Nevertheless, you should remain flexible in the salary negotiation and make concessions to your employer. Your employer may also offer you other benefits, such as covering your travel costs or a sports program that you might find interesting.

In some cases, the company may not be able to pay you the salary you want. However, it can still make sense to accept the job offer. Especially ...

... if it's your dream employer.

... if you can take on an interesting task with which you can develop yourself further.

... if you urgently want to gain professional experience (in Germany).

... if you still have little knowledge and qualifications.

Tips For Your Salary Negotiation

Be Friendly

With good preparation, you can go into the salary negotiation with confidence. Nevertheless, it is important that you always present your ideas in a friendly manner. 

No Lies

Employers often ask about the salary you earned in your previous job. You should tell the truth here. If the employer finds out that you lied, this could be a reason why you don't get the job.

Clarify the Gross and Net Salary

When negotiating your salary, you should clarify whether it is a gross or net salary. 

The gross salary is the salary that your employer pays, including all contributions such as health insurance, payroll or church tax. In other words, this is the salary before taxes are deducted. The gross salary is usually stated in a job advertisement.

The net salary is the amount you receive after taxes have been deducted. This is the amount that is transferred to your bank account each month and is available to you as income. 

To ensure clarity in salary negotiations, you should ask whether the employer is talking about gross or net salary.

Your Steps Towards Successful Salary Negotiations

Salary negotiations can be challenging, especially if you are new to Germany or are negotiating your salary for the first time. But with good preparation, you can overcome this challenge. 

And don't forget: salary negotiations are a give and take. Be open to compromises and alternative benefits. Your flexibility and openness can be the key to your successful negotiation.

In our blog posts, we do not use gender-inclusive language to make them easier to read for non-native German speaking readers. Of course, all genders are included, as diversity and inclusion are important to us.