How to negotiate a developer salary offer
Salary negotiation makes a lot of developers uncomfortable, so many skip it — and leave real money on the table. An offer is rarely the company's final number, and negotiating professionally is expected, not rude. A short, well-handled conversation can be worth thousands a year, compounding every year after.
You don't need to be a hard-nosed haggler. You need to know your worth and ask for it calmly.
Know your number before you talk
Walk in with a researched view of the market rate for the role — factoring in seniority, location, your specific stack, and company size. Salary surveys, levels sites, and honest conversations with peers all help. Decide on a target you'd be happy with and a floor you won't go below before any numbers come up.
Negotiating without a number in mind means reacting to theirs. Negotiating with one means the conversation has an anchor you chose.
Don't be the first to name a number
If you can, let the company make the first offer — whoever names a figure first sets the anchor. When asked 'what are your salary expectations?' early on, it's fine to deflect politely: 'I'd rather understand the role and the level first — what range have you budgeted for it?' If pushed, give a researched range rather than a single number, with your target near the bottom of it.
Avoid tying your ask to your current salary. What you earn now is a fact about your last job, not what this role is worth — and in many places employers can't require it.
Negotiate the whole package
Base salary is the headline, but it's not the only lever. Bonus, equity, holiday, remote-working flexibility, a learning-and-conference budget, a signing bonus, and even the start date are all negotiable. If the company genuinely can't move on base, there's often room in the rest.
Work out which of these actually matter to you before you ask. A few extra days of leave or a guaranteed remote arrangement can be worth more to you than a small base bump.
Counter calmly, and get it in writing
Keep it warm and brief: thank them for the offer, say you're excited, state your ask with a one-line reason ('based on my experience with X and the market rate for this level, I was hoping for £Y'), and stop talking. You don't need to justify it at length. Most reasonable companies expect a counter and will meet you somewhere.
Once you agree, get the final offer in writing before you resign anywhere. And know your walk-away point — if an employer reacts badly to a polite, well-reasoned negotiation, that tells you something useful about them.
Frequently asked questions
Should I always negotiate a job offer?
Almost always, yes — a polite counter is expected and rarely costs you the offer. The worst realistic outcome is that they hold firm at the original number, which you were prepared to accept anyway.
How much can I negotiate on a developer salary?
It varies, but a few percent to low double-digits on base is common, and there's often more room in bonus, equity, holiday or remote flexibility. Anchor your ask to market rate for the level, not a round-number wish.
What do I say when asked for my current salary?
You don't have to share it. Redirect to the role: 'I'd rather focus on the market rate for this position — what range have you budgeted?' In many places employers can't require your salary history anyway.
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