Negotiate your salary offer by email

Paste the offer and what you want. Get a polite counter-offer email in AUD that names a number and is clear on super, plus replies to likely pushback.

How to use it

1. Paste the offer Include base salary, whether super is on top or included, start date and anything else offered.
2. Name your number Give the figure you want and the evidence for it: market rates, a competing offer, the scope of the role.
3. Check the maths The email states base and super separately. Make sure the numbers match your offer letter.
4. Prepare for the reply You also get short replies for a "yes", a partial counter and a "no", so you are not caught off guard.

The prompt

Help me negotiate a job offer in Australia by email. Write a polite, confident counter-offer.

The offer (salary, whether super is included or on top, other terms): [OFFER_DETAILS]

What I want and why (market data, competing offer, scope): [ASK_AND_EVIDENCE_DETAILS]

Other things I would accept instead of more salary: [ALTERNATIVES]

Name of the person I am writing to and how the conversation has gone so far: [RECRUITER_CONTEXT]

Write:

- An email of 150–220 words: thanks and enthusiasm first, one specific number (not a range) with a short reason, clear about whether the figure is base salary plus super or a package including super, and an easy next step. Warm, not apologetic, no ultimatums.
- Three short reply drafts for what might come back: they agree; they offer part of the gap; they say the salary is fixed (then ask about my alternatives).
- A short note on what to confirm in writing before accepting.

Use AUD and Australian terms (superannuation, annual leave). The superannuation guarantee is 12% of ordinary time earnings; if you mention it, tell me to confirm the figure in the contract. This is help with wording, not financial or legal advice.

Example result

Subject: Operations Analyst offer — thank you, and one question on salary

Hi Daniel,

Thank you for the offer — I'm genuinely excited about the Operations Analyst role and the chance to work with your team at Tidewater. The plans you described for the new Port Botany depot are exactly the kind of work I want to be doing.

Before I accept, I'd like to discuss the base salary. Based on the Seek and Hays salary guides, similar roles in Sydney sit between $95,000 and $105,000, and since our conversations the role has grown to include managing two contractors. With that in mind, I'd like to ask for a base salary of $100,000 plus superannuation.

If we can agree on that, I'm ready to sign and start on 3 November as planned. I'm happy to talk it through on a quick call if that's easier.

Thanks again, Mei Lin Tan

If they reply…

They agree:

That's great news, thank you Daniel. Could you send the updated contract with the $100,000 base plus super? I'll sign as soon as it arrives.

They offer part of the gap (e.g. $96,000):

Thanks for coming back so quickly. I appreciate the move to $96,000. Would you be open to $96,000 with a $3,000 annual learning budget? With that, I'm happy to accept.

They say salary is fixed:

I understand, and I appreciate you being upfront. Would Tidewater consider a formal salary review at six months, written into the contract, or a $3,000 learning budget? Either would make this an easy yes for me.

Confirm in writing before accepting

• Base salary and that super is paid on top (12% superannuation guarantee — check the figure in the contract).
• Any review date or learning budget you agree, with the amount.
• Start date, hybrid arrangement and leave.

This is help with wording, not financial or legal advice. If the contract has unusual terms, such as a long restraint clause, have them checked.