How to Counter a Job Offer: The Email Script and the Call Script

If the offer in your inbox is lower than you hoped, how to counter a job offer is simple: thank them, ask for a little time, then make one polite written counter backed by market data and your value. A respectful counter rarely makes a good offer disappear. Accepting immediately can lock in a number you regret before your first day.

Should you counter a job offer at all?

Yes: counter once, in writing, with a clear reason. A single professional request gives the employer a chance to improve the package and gives you the information you need to decide.

There are three cases where you should not counter: the offer meets your target and you are ready to accept; the employer has said compensation is fixed and you are satisfied; or the role is wrong regardless of pay.

Otherwise, a counter is a normal part of hiring. Employers spend time and money filling roles, as the BLS Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey tracks. Keep your tone calm and make it easy to respond.

What should you do in the first 24 hours after the offer lands?

Thank the employer, get the complete offer in writing, and ask for two or three business days to review it. Do not accept or counter on the call. You can be enthusiastic without committing before you have seen the details.

Try this if the offer arrives by phone: “Thank you. I’m excited about the role and appreciate the offer. Could you send the full offer in writing? I’d like a couple of business days to review everything, and I’ll get back to you by [day].” If the offer is already written, reply with thanks and the date you will respond.

Review salary, bonus, equity, benefits, title, start date, and conditions. The total compensation calculator can help compare the package beyond base pay. Put questions in one list.

What two numbers should you decide before you write a word?

Choose a target and a walk-away number before drafting. Your target is the outcome you will ask for; your walk-away is the lowest package you can accept without resentment. Keep the walk-away private.

Anchor your target in market ranges for the role, location, and level, then adjust for your scope and evidence: relevant results or scarce skills. Harvard’s Program on Negotiation salary resources discuss anchoring. A supportable anchor shapes the conversation; an inflated guess weakens credibility.

“My rent went up” may be true, but it does not show why this role should pay more. Use evidence tied to the job and your contribution. If you need help framing a range, see how to negotiate salary with a range.

What should your counter offer email say?

Send one concise salary negotiation email that leads with appreciation, names your enthusiasm, states a specific number and reason, and leaves room to discuss other terms. Make the request clear enough that the recruiter can take it to the decision-maker.

Subject: [Role] offer — [Your Name]

Hi [Name],

Thank you for the offer for the [Role] position. I’m grateful for the opportunity and excited about the chance to contribute to [specific team, project, or goal].

After reviewing the responsibilities and researching the market for comparable roles, I was hoping for a base salary of $[target]. Given my experience in [relevant skill or result] and the scope of [specific responsibility], I believe that would better reflect the value I can bring.

I’m very interested in joining the team. If base salary is constrained, I’m open to discussing the broader package, including a signing bonus or an earlier compensation review.

Is there room to get closer to that figure? I’d be glad to talk through it. Thank you again, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Best, [Your Name]

This counter offer email template works because each line has a job: thanks starts warmly; a concrete detail makes your enthusiasm credible; the number and reason anchor the ask; flexibility opens other paths; and the close invites a response. Replace brackets with truthful specifics.

If you are unsure how to make the case in your own voice, the book Land the Offer with AI walks through market research, ranges, and drafting prompts as one system.

What should you say if they call instead of replying?

Stay calm, listen, and repeat your main request once. If they say base salary cannot move, pivot to one or two other terms instead of reopening the whole negotiation.

Use this salary negotiation script: “Thanks for checking. I understand base salary may be fixed. I’m still very interested. Could we explore a signing bonus to close the gap? If that is not available, could we discuss [a start date that works for both sides / a title that matches the scope / a compensation review in six months with clear goals / additional PTO]? I’d be happy to review any revised terms in writing.”

Choose the alternative that matters most. A signing bonus helps with a one-time gap; an earlier review helps only if timing and criteria are written down. Ask for any change in the revised offer before accepting.

How do you read their reply: yes, partial, or no?

A yes means the revised terms work for you. A partial means they moved but did not reach your ask; a no means the package stays as offered. Compare each reply with your private walk-away number.

• Yes: Thank them, request the final written offer, and confirm the changed terms before accepting.
• Partial: Decide whether the total package clears your minimum. You can accept the revised offer or decline; do not start another round after your one counter.
• No: If the offer still works, accept graciously. If it does not, decline with thanks and a brief explanation. This guide to declining without burning the bridge has language you can adapt.

If you decline, say: “Thank you for the offer and for considering my request. I’m excited by the team, but I can’t accept at the current compensation. I hope we have a chance to work together in the future.” Keep the relationship respectful.

Which counter offer mistakes can actually cost you the job?

The biggest avoidable mistakes are making repeated demands, using an ultimatum, lying about another offer, and negotiating every item at once. One grounded counter reads like a business discussion; a moving target can make you seem hard to close.

• Do not counter twice after they have answered your request. Choose whether the revised deal works.
• Do not say “match this or I walk” unless you are truly ready to leave. It turns a request into a test.
• Do not invent a competing offer. If discovered, the trust problem can outweigh any extra pay.
• Do not ask for more salary, bonus, title, PTO, remote work, and a new start date in one long list. Lead with your priority, then discuss one alternative if base pay is fixed.

The interview and job search hub can help you prepare earlier; now, focus on this offer.

Frequently asked questions

Can a job offer be rescinded because you countered?

An employer can withdraw an offer, but a polite, reasoned counter is not usually by itself a reason to do so. Keep the request professional, make it once, and remember that no one can guarantee an employer’s decision.

How much higher should a counter offer be?

Ask for a number supported by market data, the role’s scope, and the value you bring. There is no universal percentage; your target should be meaningful while still credible for this job and location.

Should you counter a job offer by email or by phone?

Put the counter in email so the number and rationale are clear and easy to review. If the recruiter calls, have the conversation, then ask for any revised terms in writing before deciding.

What if they say the offer is final?

Ask once whether another part of the package can move, such as a signing bonus, start date, title, PTO, or a documented six-month review. If nothing can change, compare the offer with your walk-away number and accept or decline without another counter.