Salary Negotiation in the UK: How to Ask for More (With Scripts)

A practical UK guide to negotiating salary on a job offer or a pay review: how to research your number, when to raise it, word-for-word scripts, negotiating beyond pay and what to do if the answer is no.

By Tony Musso on Sat Oct 17 2026

Most people in the UK accept the first salary they are offered. That is understandable: talking about money feels awkward, and nobody wants to lose a job offer. But employers usually expect some negotiation, especially for skilled and professional roles, and a polite, well-prepared request rarely costs you the job.

Salary negotiation is not about being pushy. It is about knowing what the role is worth, asking clearly and giving the employer a reason to say yes. This guide covers how to work out your number, when to raise it, what to say and what else you can negotiate.

Step 1: Know what the job is worth

Your request needs to be grounded in evidence, not in what you would like to earn. Gather pay information from several sources:

• The advert's salary range, and similar adverts in the same area. Job boards let you filter by salary.
• Salary guides for your career. Our UK salaries by career report shows typical starting, mid and senior pay for hundreds of jobs.
• Pay scales. Many public sector roles, including NHS Agenda for Change, teaching and the Civil Service, use published pay bands. Negotiation there usually means where you start within the band.
• Recruiters, who know what offers are being made and accepted.
• People in the job. Professional networks and LinkedIn contacts will often give a range even if they won't share their own pay.

Location matters a lot. London roles usually pay more, and some employers pay a London weighting on top.

Decide three numbers before you talk to anyone:

Step 2: Time it right

Wait for the offer if you can. You have the most leverage once the employer has decided they want you. If you are asked about salary expectations early, you can say:

"I'm keen to understand the full role first. From my research, roles like this pay between £X and £Y, and I'd expect to be in that range depending on the overall package."

Don't accept on the spot. It is normal to thank them, say you are very pleased and ask for a day or two to consider the details. Ask for the offer in writing.

For a pay rise in your current job, raise it at your annual review or after a clear success, such as finishing a project or taking on new responsibility. Ask for a meeting rather than mentioning it in passing.

Step 3: What to say

Keep it short, positive and specific. You are asking, not demanding.

Negotiating a job offer:

"Thank you, I'm really pleased to be offered the role and I'd like to accept. Based on my experience with [specific skill] and what similar roles pay in [area], I was hoping for a salary of £X. Is there any flexibility on the starting salary?"

Then stop talking and let them respond. Silence feels uncomfortable, but it gives them space to consider your request.

If they say the budget is fixed:

"I understand. Would there be flexibility elsewhere in the package, for example an earlier salary review after six months, or an extra few days of annual leave?"

Asking for a pay rise:

"Over the last year I've taken on [responsibility] and delivered [result]. Looking at the market rate for this role, which is around £X to £Y, I'd like to discuss moving my salary to £Z."

Negotiating beyond salary

If the salary really can't move, the package often can. Things worth asking about:

• A salary review date, such as after a six-month probation
• A sign-on bonus to bridge the gap
• Annual leave, beyond the statutory 28 days including bank holidays for full-time staff
• Flexible or hybrid working, which you can also request formally once you are employed. See our guide to flexible working requests.
• Employer pension contributions above the auto-enrolment minimum
• Training and qualifications paid for by the employer
• Job title, which affects your next move

A higher pension contribution or paid qualification can be worth more over time than a small salary increase.

How much to ask for

There is no fixed rule, but asking for somewhere between 5% and 10% above the offer is common for a new job, as long as your number is supported by research. If the offer is already at the top of the advertised range, asking for much more is unlikely to succeed without a strong reason, such as a competing offer or rare skills.

Be careful with competing offers. Only mention one if it is real and you would be prepared to take it.

What if they say no?

A no is not the end. You can:

• Ask what you would need to achieve to reach your target salary, and agree a review date in writing.
• Negotiate other parts of the package.
• Decide whether the role is still right for you at that pay.

Employers very rarely withdraw an offer because a candidate asked politely for more. If they do, it tells you something about how they would treat you as an employee.

Mistakes to avoid

• Giving a number with no evidence. Always link it to the market or your skills.
• Personal reasons. Rent or childcare costs matter to you, but the employer pays for the job, not your bills.
• Ultimatums. "Pay me £X or I'll walk" puts people on the defensive.
• Negotiating by text or chat. Phone or meet, then confirm by email.
• Accepting before you see the contract. Check the pay, notice period and benefits in writing.

Make sure you are aiming for the right role Career Compass ranks UK careers that suit you, with typical pay at each stage, so you can see where your skills earn most.

Take Career Compass

For more on pay, see our UK salaries by career report, and if you are still at the application stage, use the CV builder to make sure your skills are front and centre.

Comparing careers? Here is which career test is actually worth taking before you decide.