In the UK, most companies include the salary range in the job advert, so you know what to expect based on your experience. That is not the case in many other countries, including the United States.

Negotiating the salary for my first remote job was based on my office-based job rather than on knowledge and experience.

After six months into the job, I re-negotiated because when researching similar roles, the salary was higher.

Over the last six years, many lessons have been learned.

So, how do you negotiate salary for remote jobs?

Research Your Role and Industry

Firstly, contact recruitment consultants on LinkedIn and ask for their advice on what salary to expect for the role and industry – most will help you. Or, reach out to recruitment officers in similar companies and ask for their expectations.

A helpful site, Salary.com, highlights the average salary based on the job and industry. It is focused on your location, but if you find out the location of the company HQ, you will have a rough estimate of what to expect.

Know Your Value

You are valuable to the company because they would not be negotiating with you or looking for someone with your knowledge and experience.

If you are applying for a job that helps increase revenue, bear this in mind.

Sales, marketing, and copywriting are good roles that add lots of value to the company because they increase the audience and sales. Think about how the remote job benefits the business, and use this in your negotiations.

Remote Working is Not a Perk

What do I mean by this? Some companies might be tempted to reduce the salary because they see working from home as a benefit for you. Remember that the company has chosen to build a remote workforce because it saves them money.

While working from home has many benefits, it should not impact your salary. I would go as far as to say it should be higher than an office-based role because the employee is paying for higher utility bills.

Consider Your Cost of Living

It is time to get out your calculator and work out how much you need to make each month to live comfortably. You have to be realistic. Is the job you are negotiating on actually going to cover your cost of living?

Remember, you will have higher utility costs working from home. Air conditioning during the summer and heating during the winter months. Do you need to upgrade your internet to cope with video conferencing?

Does the job include benefits like pension and health benefits? If not, you will need to make sure those are covered.

Negotiate Beyond Your Salary

Leading on from benefits, be prepared to negotiate on those as well. Will you need a more powerful laptop to work? Do you need accessories for furniture to make working more comfortable?

Look at the benefits they offer; if it is not what you want, this is your opportunity to raise it.

If you have reached the negotiation stage, they obviously want you to be part of their company. So, be honest about your needs.

Walk Away if Need Be

This is easier said than done. If the salary does not match your expectations, walk away and continue your job search.

Set expectations early on in the negotiation process on what you are expecting. Be prepared to make some sacrifices but not to the point where you feel you will be underpaid for the value you add.

Hopefully, this article has helped answer the question, how do you negotiate salary for remote jobs?