How to Successfully Negotiate Salary

Whether you’re a Software Engineer in Sydney or a Marketing Manager in Melbourne, as recruiters, there is one question that never gets old: “Am I being paid what I’m worth?”

Negotiating your salary can feel super awkward if you’re not properly prepared. With the right prep, timing, and attitude, you can turn that conversation into a confident, career-defining win.

Here’s our recruiter-approved tips on how to negotiate salary confidently, and actually get the pay rise you deserve.

1. Do Your Research

Before you talk numbers, you will actually need real data to back it up (not guesswork).

Check:

• Salary guides and job ads for your role and experience level
• Real-time benchmarks from recruiters who specialise in your industry
• Demand in your niche – if your skills are in short supply, you’ve got leverage 

💡 Pro tip: The market moves quickly, especially in tech and marketing. Partnering with a recruitment agency gives you instant access to live salary data, current hiring trends, and insights from hundreds of active job offers.

Or go straight to the source! Download our updated Salary Guide & Market Report HERE for the latest salary ranges across Australia.

Knowledge is your strongest bargaining chip, and it’s exactly what good recruiters use every day.

2. Build Your Case

This is where all your prep pays off.

You’re not just asking for more money, you’re proving why you’ve already earned it.

Create a business case that includes all your work, including measurable outcomes and company wins that have happened off the back of it. Our hot tip is to remember to do this as you go throughout the year, much easier than a quick scramble before your performance review.

• Quantify your impact  “Delivered X project under budget,” “Improved conversions by 30%,” “Increased customer retention.”
• Highlight new responsibilities you’ve taken on or anything you’ve done that was out of scope for your current role.
• Compare your results to what similar professionals are delivering in the market (this comes back to market research, where our report can be a great tool!)

If you’re unsure about any of this, just talk to an expert recruiter who works in your space. A good one can tell you where your skills sit in the market and what hiring managers are currently paying.

3. Think Beyond Pay

While getting more money is obviously the goal, consider your work-life balance and other perks you can bargain for to make your working life more enjoyable.

Sometimes it’s a case of tight budgets or a “not right now”. So, in this case, prepare ahead of time and think about negotiating for:

• Extra annual leave
• Flexible or remote working options
• Professional development or training
• Bonuses, equity, or sign-on payments

These can all improve your total package and your overall job satisfaction.

You can also ask your manager (or recruiter) what goals or milestones you’d need to hit to revisit the salary conversation later. That shows initiative and keeps the door open for growth.

4. Time It Right

Timing isn’t critical, but it can make a difference to the sentiment of your conversation.

Pick your moment wisely:

• Performance reviews are obviously the best time, especially when you’ve already prepped your case from the step before (wink wink, nudge nudge).
• Right after a big project win can also be a good time, strike while the momentum’s high
• Or if you’re looking for a new job, make sure to negotiate once the offer is on the table, not after you’ve accepted… trust us that never lands well.

5. Know Your Bottom Line

Before you go into any negotiation, know where you stand. Is this make-or-break, or just a nice-to-have? What is a non-negotiable, and what are you willing to compromise on?

Write down:

• Your minimum salary
• Your non-negotiables (flexibility, growth, culture)
• Your Plan B if the offer doesn’t meet your expectations

Having a clear idea of your boundaries gives you confidence and stops you from accepting less than what you deserve.

Ready to Back Yourself?

If you’re not sure what your skills are worth or how to have that salary chat confidently, talk to a recruiter who knows your market.

At TheDriveGroup, we help candidates across Australia benchmark their worth, prep for salary negotiations, and land roles that tick all the boxes. 

We work across: Software, Hardware, Engineering, Development, (.NET, Java, Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, React, Angular, Node, PHP, Ruby on Rails, Golang), Mobile (iOS, Android, Flutter, React Native), Enterprise & Solution Architecture, Testing, QA, Project & Program Management, Business Analyisis, Digital Transformation, Marketing, Product, Design (UX/UI), Data Engineering, Data Science, AI, Machine Learning, Cyber Security, Infrastructure, Support, and all things tech related!

👉 Get in touch with our recruitment agency today.