When will you be asked about salary expectations?
Usually early, often in the first phone screen with a recruiter, and sometimes on the application form. The recruiter wants to know whether your number fits the budget before the hiring manager spends time on you. You may be asked again near the offer stage, when the number starts to matter for real.
Being asked early is normal, and you don't have to answer with a single figure. Your goal at the screen is to stay in the process with a range you can defend, without setting a ceiling on yourself. The phone interview questions guide covers the rest of that first call.
Which laws make employers show the pay range?
Several US states and Canadian provinces now require pay information in job postings. The table below covers four we checked on the official government pages. Other states, cities and provinces have their own rules, so check your own labour ministry or department of labor before relying on this list.
| Jurisdiction | What a job posting must show | Other rules on the official page |
|---|---|---|
| California | Employers with 15 or more employees must include the pay scale in any job posting, as a good faith estimate of the salary or hourly range | Employers generally can't seek your salary history. They must give you the pay scale on reasonable request, and they may ask about your salary expectations |
| Colorado | Employers with at least one employee in Colorado must include the pay rate or range, a general description of other pay such as bonuses, and the benefits | Ranges can't be open-ended, such as "$30,000 and up" or "up to $60,000" |
| Ontario | Since January 1, 2026, employers with 25 or more employees must include the expected pay or a range in public postings, unless pay is above $200,000 a year | The posted range can be at most $50,000 wide. If you're interviewed, the employer must tell you within 45 days whether a hiring decision has been made |
| British Columbia | Provincially regulated employers must include the wage or salary, or a range, in all public job postings | "Competitive wage" or "$20 per hour and up" don't comply. You can still ask for pay outside the posted range |
Sources: California Labor Commissioner, Colorado Division of Labor Standards and Statistics, Ontario Ministry of Labour and Government of British Columbia. This is general information, not legal advice. If you think an employer broke one of these rules, the agency on that page is the place to ask.
Two of these rules change what you can say. In California, employers generally can't seek your salary history, though you may share it voluntarily (California Labor Commissioner). And in California you can ask for the pay scale for the job you've applied for, which is a useful first move when no range was posted.
Should you give a number first?
If the posting shows a range, you already have a number, so anchor to it. If there's no range, ask for it before giving yours. Most roles have a budget, and asking plainly costs you nothing. If they won't, give a researched range whose bottom is a number you'd accept.
Avoid giving a single figure early. A single number becomes the offer, and you lose room to adjust once you learn more about the scope, the bonus or the benefits. Keep the range fairly narrow, roughly 10 to 15% from bottom to top, so it looks researched, and make the bottom a number you'd take without regret.
How do you research a salary range?
Use three sources: posted ranges for similar jobs, government wage data and people doing the job. In the US, the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage estimates for about 830 occupations, for the nation, each state and metro areas; the latest data is for May 2025 (BLS OEWS).
In Canada, the Government of Canada's Job Bank lets you compare wages for an occupation across different parts of the country (Job Bank). Posted ranges are often the most current source, because they reflect what employers are offering now. Collect five to ten postings for similar jobs in your area and note the middle of each range.
Government data is about a year old when it's published and averages across many employers, so treat it as a floor check. If your range is far above the government figure for your area, make sure you can explain why, such as a specialized skill, a licence or a bigger scope than the typical job.
What are good scripts for the salary expectations question?
Below are seven example scripts for common situations. The figures are placeholders, so replace them with your own research. Each one gives a range or asks for one, explains the basis briefly, and leaves room to adjust once you know more about the full offer.
Script 1: the posting shows a range
I saw the posting lists [$85,000 to $100,000]. Based on my experience with [the main skill], I'd expect to be in the upper half of that range. I'd like to learn more about the full package, including bonus and benefits, before we settle on a number.
Script 2: no range was posted, so ask first
I'm flexible, and I'd like to make sure we're in the same place. Could you share the range budgeted for this role? That would help me give you a useful answer.
Script 3: they push for your number first
Based on what I've seen for similar roles in [city] and the scope you described, I'm looking at [$90,000 to $102,000] in base salary. That depends on the rest of the package, so I'm open to talking it through once we both know more.
Script 4: they ask for your current salary
I'd rather focus on what this role is worth, given its scope. My expectation for this position is [$90,000 to $102,000]. I'm happy to talk about how my experience fits that.
In California, employers generally can't seek your salary history, so you can decline without explaining (California Labor Commissioner). Elsewhere, check your own state or province before you decide what to share.
Script 5: they say your range is above budget
Thanks for telling me. Could you share where the budget sits? If base pay is fixed, I'd like to understand the bonus, the review cycle and whether there's room on start date or vacation. I'm interested in the role, and I'd like to find something that works for both of us.
Script 6: roles with a bonus or equity
For base salary I'm looking at [$140,000 to $155,000]. I know this role also has [a bonus and equity], so I'd want to see the full package before I settle on a total. Can you tell me how the bonus is usually paid out?
Script 7: hourly roles
For this role I'm looking for [$26 to $29] an hour. That's based on what similar roles in [city] are posting and my [three years] of experience with [the main task]. Is that in the range you have in mind?
Notice what none of the scripts does. None apologizes for the number, and none gives a figure with no basis behind it. Each leaves a door open, which matters because the first number you say is rarely the last one discussed.
What should you avoid saying about salary?
Avoid naming a number you'd be unhappy with, because an employer may offer the bottom of your range. Avoid "whatever is fair," which hands the decision to the employer. Avoid sharing your current salary if you'd rather not, especially where the law limits salary history questions.
Also keep the salary conversation separate from your reasons for leaving. If you said you're leaving for more pay, be consistent here. The guide to why you're leaving your current job shows how to say that calmly, and why do you want to work here should give a reason beyond pay. If you're changing careers, expect the range question to come with a question about your experience level.
What should you do after the salary conversation?
Write down the exact range you gave, the range they shared and anything they said about bonus or benefits, the same day. You'll need those words when the offer comes. The free debrief template has room for notes like these alongside each answer.
If you interviewed in Ontario and heard nothing, the 45-day rule above applies to employers covered by the posting rules. For timing elsewhere, see how long it takes to hear back. To rehearse your salary answer out loud before the screen, the Prept Mock room times your answer and scores it out of 10 against your resume, in the free plan.