What Salary Can You Really Expect From a $60K-$90K Job Posting?
A $60,000 to $90,000 range looks like a generous invitation, but it’s really just a boundary. It tells you what the employer is willing to pay, not where in that spread you’ll land, or whether the top end is even on the table.
Employers have their reasons for posting wide ranges, and where you land depends on factors, several of which you can influence. Here’s how to read between the lines before the offer lands.
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Why Employers Post Such Wide Salary Ranges
Edward Hones, owner of Hones Law, says the wide ranges are often a legal move. In Washington and a growing number of other states, employers must disclose a pay range in job postings, and many post the widest range they can justify rather than the one they actually expect to pay.
A broad range also lets employers attract candidates with different levels of experience without writing separate postings. It also keeps them from committing to a specific number they might later have to defend, Hones said.
Currently, 14 states, including California, Colorado, Hawaii and New York, plus D.C., require salary ranges in job postings, according to Teamed.
What Actually Sets Your Offer
Brian Daniel, recruiter, career coach and founder of The Celebrity PA Network, said there are quite a few factors that go into determining salary, including:
Overall level of experience
Education, certificates and training
Whether the position is in office or remote
Scope of responsibilities
Number of subordinates (if applicable)
Unfortunately, in some cases, the offer amount isn't determined through a transparent process.
Not every offer comes from a transparent process, though. Hones said a fair offer should rest on documented, job-related factors like experience, skills, education and internal pay equity with current employees. In practice, offers sometimes reflect what a candidate earned before or how hard they pushed during negotiations.
How To Find Out What They’ll Actually Pay
Dr. Kyle Elliott, career and executive coach for tech leaders, recommended that when a recruiter asks about your salary expectations, you respond with a question of your own, like, "What range are you working with for this position?"
He explained that recruiters expect this question, but if you feel uncomfortable asking it out loud, you can email the recruiter.
Elliott then suggested asking whether the posted salary range reflects base salary only or total compensation, including any bonuses, equity and benefits.
“Base salary is just one piece of pay, and for executives, deferred compensation alone can add hundreds of thousands of dollars,” he said.
Finally, Elliott suggests talking to current and former employees before your first interview. Many people are willing to share how their company structures pay, including how it handles raises, and that insight can tell you more than any posted range.
The Bottom Line
A posted range tells you what the employer is willing to say publicly. What you actually get depends on what you bring to the table, how you ask for it and how much you know going in.
Do your homework, ask the right questions early and treat the range as a starting point instead of a verdict. A $90,000 ceiling is worth aiming for, but you can only aim at it once you know where the target is.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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