Negotiating salary for a new job or your current role can be intimidating, but knowing your value makes all the difference. No matter how exciting the opportunity, salary is a major factor in accepting or declining a job offer. Knowing how to negotiate salary for a new job and that you’re being compensated fairly for your skills and experience has a direct impact on job satisfaction. As such, understanding the nuances of when and how to negotiate salary in Canada – during an interview or after getting the job offer – is incredibly important.After all, there’s a fine line between success and failure: If you bring up salary too early, for example, it can signal you’re more interested in the paycheque than the job. Or if you quote a desired salary figure without doing the proper research, you might leave money on the table or price yourself out of consideration. Ask any hiring professional how to negotiate salary, new job duties, benefits, etc. during an interview, and they’ll tell you this: When the topic of compensation comes up, you need to be diplomatic and prepared.
Do your research. Have a good understanding of what’s a fair starting salary for the job and the company you’re considering. Reference the latest Robert Half Canada Salary Guide for salary ranges across Finance and Accounting, Technology, Marketing and Creative, Legal, Administrative and Customer Service and HR.This article will provide job seekers tips on when and how to negotiate salary during an interview.
Mentioning salary in your cover letter or during the initial phone screening is a no-no. Don’t bring it up during your first interview either. Use these opportunities instead to show your suitability for the role and let the employer get to know you.By the second interview, it’s usually acceptable to ask about compensation, but tact is key. Express your interest in the job and the strengths you would bring to it before asking for the salary range. Make the employer feel confident you’re there for more than just the paycheque. If they bring up money first, provide a range that leaves room for negotiation. Showing that you're flexible is the key toward working out a compensation package that’s acceptable to both you and the employer. Just be sure you fully understand the job requirements before answering questions about your preferred salary.
Hold your cards close
As a rule, it’s best to get the employer to offer a figure first. Knowing the company’s starting point can give you some leverage during salary negotiations. But sometimes you can’t avoid going first. Some online job application forms will ask for your expected salary, generally to ensure that candidates’ expectations line up with the organization’s budget. In such a case, offer a range (not an exact figure) that would be acceptable to you based on research you did coming into the interview.If you don’t think it isn’t the right time to offer up a salary expectation, try to defer and turn the question around: “I’d like to first learn more about the job and the company so I can offer a more accurate salary expectation. But may I ask what salary range you’re considering for the position?”
Research
At the beginning of the process, even before your phone screening, do your homework. A key aspect of learning how to negotiate a starting salary for a new job is finding out the latest salary ranges for your city, industry and the job title you’re applying for - the 2026 Canada Salary Guide From Robert Half can help with this. The new Salary Calculator, a powerful tool which aggregates salary data for hundreds of positions across industries and experience levels, can help you to localize these figures for markets across Canada.
If you’re offered the job but know the salary doesn’t meet local standards for the position and industry, it’s perfectly acceptable to request additional compensation. This is how to negotiate salary.As with any negotiation however, you need to give solid reasons for your position. Talk specifically about your skills, experience and prior successes, especially those that have had a measurable effect on a company’s bottom line. Then, try to align your attributes to the role you’re applying for to make the case for why the compensation should be higher.According to the 2026 Canada Salary Guide From Robert Half, 71% of Canadian hiring managers of hiring managers worry about keeping up with compensation expectations through 2026. Employers across Canada are prioritizing skills over titles or tenure when evaluating potential hires. They are also placing a premium on specialized, business-critical expertise. Compensation trends reflect this shift, aligning more closely with the market value of specific skills.
Key to knowing how to negotiate salary for a new job is recognizing the importance of honesty. Never mislead a prospective employer about your current compensation or invent other job offers in an effort to get more money. They’ll eventually learn the truth, whether through a background check or when your job performance doesn’t match your supposed experience. Stick to the facts, which are your skills and technical abilities the role requires.Read more: Common Interview Questions and How to Answer them for Canadian Job Seekers
Think total compensation
The latest Canada Salary Guide research shows that many professionals are open to changing jobs if it means better work-life balance and financial perks – like bonuses or stock options – even if their base salary stays about the same.Learning how to negotiate pay for a new job is important but be sure to evaluate the entire compensation package. An interesting job with a base starting salary could have a generous employee benefits package or opportunities to learn and grow with the company. You want to fully understand the total compensation package when negotiating salary, including health insurance, registered retirement investment options and vacation days.
Get it in writing
Read tips to Landing a job.Congratulations, you negotiated salary and got the job offer you wanted! The final critical step is to ask for it in writing. If you are leaving another job for a new opportunity, don’t resign from your current position without having a firm offer letter signed back to the new position.Knowing how to negotiate salary for any job is like knowing how to dance. You don’t want to start too early, and you don’t want to step on anybody’s toes. Being prepared with salary research and a strong ability to communicate your most relevant strengths will help you put your best foot forward.Looking for more resources?
