Salary Negotiation Script Generator

Subject: Senior Software Engineer offer — request to discuss compensation

Thank you for the offer for the Senior Software Engineer role — I'm genuinely excited about the team and the work. Based on my research, the market range for this role sits around $150,000, and given I led three migrations that cut infra costs by 30% and shipped the platform's most-used feature last year, my target is $140,000. I'd love to accept, but I'd need the total package to move closer to $140,000 — could we explore what's possible on base, equity, or a signing bonus? I'm confident we can find a number that works for both of us.

• →Market anchoring: the going rate for a Senior Software Engineer is around $150,000, and my ask of $140,000 sits inside that band.
• →Value evidence: I led three migrations that cut infra costs by 30% and shipped the platform's most-used feature last year — that track record justifies the top of the band.
• →Package trade-offs: if base is capped at $120,000, we can close the gap with equity, a signing bonus, or a faster review cycle.
• →Flexibility: I'm open on the split between base and variable, but the total needs to land near $140,000.
• →Commitment: I'm ready to sign quickly once we align — timing matters more to me than squeezing the last dollar.

If the base is fixed at $120,000, can we add $20,000 as a signing bonus, or bring my first performance review forward to six months? That would bring my first-year compensation to $140,000 and get us very close to my target. I'm committed to the role and happy to start on your timeline — let me know which of these trade-offs works for you.