Is it okay to say I'm flexible on salary?

It's fine as a supporting statement, but pairing it with a researched range shows more preparation than "flexible" alone, which can come across as not having done any homework.

Should my stated range match my current salary closely?

Not necessarily — your range should reflect market rate for the new role and your value, not just be an incremental bump from your current pay, especially if you're moving to a different scope or company size.

What if the salary range the company shares is lower than I expected?

You can still express interest while noting your researched expectation is somewhat higher, and ask whether there's flexibility — or decide the gap is too significant to move forward, depending on your priorities.

Is it a red flag if a company refuses to share any salary range?

It's increasingly less common as more regions require salary transparency in postings, but not automatically disqualifying — it's reasonable to ask again later in the process if it wasn't shared early on.

How to Answer the Salary Expectations Question (With Examples)

How to Answer "What Are Your Salary Expectations?"

"What are your salary expectations?" often comes up earlier in the process than feels natural, before you've fully learned about the role. The goal isn't to dodge it, but to answer confidently while leaving room to adjust once you know more.

Sana Iqbal

HR Business Partner

December 11, 20256 min read

Answering the salary question, step by step

1Research a range

2Lead with the range

3Redirect if too early

4Anchor toward the top if pushed

Why this question feels harder than it should

Say a number too low, and you may leave money on the table. Too high, and you risk being filtered out before you've even had a chance to show your value. The discomfort is real — but a prepared, range-based answer removes most of the guesswork.

The range approach

Rather than a single fixed number, give a researched range with the lower end still being genuinely acceptable to you. This shows preparation while leaving room to negotiate once more details about the role are clear.

A range-based answer

"Based on my research for this role and my experience level, I'm looking at a range of [X to Y]. That said, I'm open to discussing the full compensation package and would want to understand more about the role's scope before finalizing a number."

If you're pushed for a single specific number

It's fine to name a specific figure toward the higher end of your researched range rather than the middle — most first offers land somewhat below the initial ask, so starting slightly higher gives you room to land in a range you're genuinely happy with.

Redirecting the question if it comes up too early

A polite redirect

"I'd love to understand more about the role and its responsibilities before landing on a specific number — could you share the budgeted range for this position?"

Many recruiters will share a range when asked directly, which then lets you respond with more precision rather than guessing blindly.

For freshers with no salary history to reference

Research market rates specifically for entry-level roles in your field and location rather than guessing, and it's completely reasonable to state you're flexible within a researched range while prioritizing overall role fit and growth potential.

Before you answer the salary question