How to Negotiate a Job Offer

Extremely rarely. Professional negotiation — respectful, grounded in data, focused on a specific number — almost never results in a rescinded offer. An employer who rescinds an offer because you negotiated professionally has told you something important about the culture.

Be specific and anchor to market data: "Based on my research for this role in this market — and given my 8 years of directly relevant experience — I was targeting $X. Is there flexibility to move closer to that number?" Specific numbers are taken more seriously than ranges. Name the higher end of your range.

In many US states, employers are prohibited from asking. If asked, you can say: "I prefer to focus on the market rate for this role rather than my current salary." If you choose to share, contextualize it: "My current total comp is $X, which includes bonus — so the base is $Y."

Signing bonuses are often easier to negotiate than base salary because they are one-time costs. Ask directly: "Is there flexibility on a signing bonus to help offset the unvested equity I am leaving behind?" This is a common and accepted negotiation point.

"Non-negotiable" usually means "this is our starting position." Ask if there is flexibility in other areas: signing bonus, equity, title, or remote policy. If all elements are truly fixed, decide on the merits — but probe before accepting the framing.