Salary Requirements: 5 Cover Letter Answers

Often job ads ask that candidates include their salary, salary requirements or salary history.  If that is a requirement, not putting in your salary will usually send your resume to the trash bin.  It’s very understandable why you wouldn’t want to include your salary.  It can put you at a great disadvantage especially if you are ‘negotiable.’  From an employers point of view, it can help the weed out a lot of resumes.  Here are some suggestions on how to handle this in your cover letter.

1.  State your current salary.  An employer may ask for a W2 or pay stub and can confirm your salary during the reference checking stage.

2  State your current salary but state that you are ‘negotiable.’

3. Give a range.  In prior positions, my salary has ranged from $100,000.00 to $150,000.00

4.  Use a total compensation number.  Including bonuses, my compensation has been in the $100,000.00 range.  If you have other compensation, add it in and state that it includes commissions, bonuses etc.

5.  If you are running your own business or freelancing, you can state what you are earning yearly or just say that it varies month-to-month.

Remember, if an employer asks for a number, it is better to give it than leave it out.