For desired salary on job application forms, the safest answer is a researched range that starts at a figure you would truly accept, such as "[low end] to [high end] a year, depending on the full role", or the words "Negotiable" if the box takes text.
The field goes by many names: Desired salary, Salary expectations, Salary requirements, Expected pay or Desired hourly rate. It is a question about what you want next, not what you earned before. This page shows how to pick a number, what to type when the box only takes digits, and sample answers for each kind of field.
Quick answers
The answer
A researched range, or Negotiable if text is allowedLow end
Never below what you would really acceptNumber only box
Type the middle of your rangePast pay
Some states, such as California and Washington, bar employers from askingPay unit
Match yearly or hourly to what the form asks
What the desired salary on job application forms is really asking
Employers ask so they can see early whether your expectation fits the budget for the opening. A number far above the range may get screened out; a number far below can lock you into less pay than the job is worth. Your aim is to land inside the real range and keep room to talk.
| Term on the form | What it means |
|---|---|
| Desired salary or Salary expectations | The pay you want for this job |
| Salary requirements | The lowest pay that would make the job work for you, though most people still give a range |
| Salary range | A low and high figure, or the range the employer posted |
| Starting salary | The pay you would get on day one, before any raise |
| Current or previous salary | Your pay history, which some states bar employers from asking about |
How to research a fair number
- Check the posting first. Many now list a pay range, and a growing number of states require larger employers to include one.
- Look up the job title for your area on a government wage survey, or compare several postings for the same title nearby.
- Adjust for your level: entry level near the bottom, several years of experience or a license toward the middle or top.
- Decide your walk away number, the lowest pay you would accept after counting travel, hours and benefits.
- Build a range that starts at or a little above your walk away number.
Write your range in the notes of your application tracker for each job, so you give the same answer if a recruiter calls a week later.
Sample answers for each kind of salary box
A text box
[Low end] to [high end] a year, depending on the full responsibilities and benefits.
Negotiable, based on the role and total compensation.
Open to discussion. My research suggests a range of [low end] to [high end] for this role in [city].
A box that only takes numbers
Many portals reject letters. Type the middle of your range, or the low end if you badly need the job. Some people enter 0 or 1 to move past the box, but a recruiter may read it as careless or as a real figure, so a sensible number is safer.
[Midpoint of your range]
Hourly jobs
[Hourly rate] an hour, or the posted rate if higher.
Open to the posted rate.
Two boxes, minimum and maximum
Minimum: [your walk away number] Maximum: [top of your range]
Good and risky ways to answer
Give a range based on research, with the low end at a number you would accept.
Type a figure lower than you would really take, hoping it helps you get hired. It often becomes your offer.
Use "Negotiable" or "Open to discussion" where the form allows words.
Leave a required box blank or write "Whatever you pay". It sounds like you have not thought about it.
Match the pay unit the form asks for, yearly or hourly.
Mix them up, such as an hourly rate in a yearly box, which can make your answer look huge or tiny.
Salary history bans and pay range laws
Desired pay and past pay are different questions. A growing number of states and cities stop employers from asking what you earned before, and many now require pay ranges in job posts. These rules do not stop a form from asking what you want.
| Place | What the law says | Official text |
|---|---|---|
| California | Employers may not seek your salary history and may not rely on it to decide an offer. Any employer with at least 15 workers must put a pay scale in job postings. | Labor Code 432.3 |
| Washington | Employers may not seek your wage or salary history, but may confirm it if you share it yourself or after an offer with pay has been made. | RCW 49.58.100 |
| Other states and cities | Several more have similar bans or posting rules, and the details differ. | Check your state labor department |
If a form in a place with a ban still asks for your past pay, you may leave it blank or write "Prefer to discuss desired pay". For your own case, read your state labor department's page or ask an employment lawyer.
If the recruiter asks again on a call
Phone screeners often repeat the question. Have a short script ready.
"Based on what I have seen for this role in [city], I am looking at [low end] to [high end]. I am flexible depending on the schedule and benefits. Can you share the range budgeted for the position?"
Asking for their range is normal, and in places with posting laws they may already have it written down. For more about every other question that comes up, see common job application questions.
Where the salary field fits in the rest of the form
Desired pay often sits next to Availability, Start date and Notice period. Answer them together so they tell one story: if you need a two week notice, say so there, and see our page on the notice period. For the full walk through, read filling in the rest of the form, and for the words used in these boxes, application terms explained.
Questions people ask
What should I put for desired salary on job application forms?
A range from your research, starting at a figure you would accept. If the box takes words, "Negotiable" or "Open to discussion" also works.
How to answer salary expectations on a job application with no experience?
Look at the posted range or nearby postings for the same title and aim near the lower middle. Entry level applicants can also write "Open to the posted rate".
What does salary range mean on a job application?
Two numbers, a low and a high. Either the employer is showing the pay band for the job, or it wants you to give your own low and high numbers.
What does starting salary mean on a job application?
Day one pay, before any raise. When a form asks your desired starting salary, give the amount you want on day one.
Can I put negotiable for salary requirements?
Yes, where the box accepts text. It keeps the talk open, though some recruiters will still ask for a number later, so have a range ready.
Is it legal for an application to ask my current salary?
It depends on where you live. Some states and cities ban the question; others allow it. Check your state labor department's page for the rule that applies to you.