Salary negotiation has always been the “moment of truth” when interviewing for a new job. How many times have you been low balled after 5 interviews and 2 months invested in the hiring process?


With the pandemic and recent news on remote work, the rules of negotiating salaries have been turned upside down and we’re all left wondering what the best strategies are when the conditions of work have changed so much. 

At Wanted, there is no wiggle room as companies commit to salary first, no matter whether you’re working remotely or from an office. But for those who still need to negotiate their salaries, we’ve asked companies to tell us how they can maintain their bargaining power while working remotely in 2020. 

Cost-of-living influences salary but doesn’t define it. 

It’s well known that salaries in bigger cities are higher, you will be probably always paid more in cities like New York  than say Paris, Texas or other more rural places. However companies pay the “cost of labor” in a location, but rarely the “cost of living”, which effectively means that even if you’re earning more in New York City -- you may not have the same living standards as someone earning less but living in a cheaper place.

This “logic” won’t be changing drastically in 2020 and even if remote work will become a new paradigm your cost of living won’t define your salary. Sarah Franklin, cofounder of Blue Tree AI confirms: “you may want to consider the cost of living of where your potential employee lives. [...] That being said, we base salary on the job requirements and the level of expertise for the individual we are hiring. Our pay is a set range regardless of where our remote employee lives, however offering a salary at the higher range of your scale for those who live in a higher cost of living could secure the hire.”

And let’s not forget that packages can include other monetary compensation than fixed salary, such as bonuses, work incentives etc. Based on your job, it can sometimes be easier to negotiate those variable elements, “you will have far more joy in negotiating them (personal bonus etc) if you are in a role that directly impacts P&L, so sales people will have a much easier time negotiating personal bonus targets” tells Ajmal Dar, founder of Mocassin Guru. 

If you don’t know where to start you can figure out the minimum salary you’ll need to maintain your living standards with the Relocation calculator. Simply enter your current salary, city where you live and the city you’re moving to and the tool will provide you with the base salary that ensures you keep the lifestyle you are used to. 

Remote work can sometimes be an advantage. Research and prepare your arguments. 

“Working from home shouldn’t mean sacrificing the salary that you deserve.” says Jon Hill, CEO & Chairman of the recruiting firm The Energists, “Remote work has benefits for the company, as well, and your work is equally valuable no matter where you work from. Avoid the temptation to accept less pay because you have more flexibility. It doesn’t have to be one or the other.”  

Hill recommends using facts and statistics about the benefits of remote work to be used at your advantage. “it’s been documented that employees are even more productive when working from home than they are in an office. Find those studies and know the numbers. This will give you a stronger platform for your argument that you deserve higher pay”.

Most importantly: Know your worth and don’t lowball yourself. 

“Too many candidates walk into salary negotiations with no idea what they should make.” confirms Jon, CEO & Chairman of the recruiting firm The Energists. “Figure out where you should fall in the spectrum for your job based on your skills and experience. This is the only way to know how much you should ask for and whether the company’s offer is fair.”

Researching should be your priority number one. You should be looking at your industry, job field, location, etc. You can also research competition to see what their rates are. “Check where some of their immediate competitors are located and what remuneration they are giving their employees.” tells Abigail Dodwell, HR Director at Haro Helpers, “use LinkedIn  to check if you have any connections working at the company, if so you could reach out to them to ascertain if they know what they are paying employees for that role currently.” 

To tell “I've liaised with a few people in similar roles/companies and cross-referenced employee pay databases and the benchmark for this position is valued at 45-50k is better than saying Glassdoor said you should be paying me 50k” Dodwell concludes. 

Kenny Trinh, managing editor of Netbooknews recommends job seekers to prepare themselves to what they want, are ready to accept and to not accept. “those are the 3 numbers you need to know yourself.. It’s the Goldilocks combo:

a. Highest/ideal target salary that will guarantee acceptance and refusal of the counter.

b. Median/average salary you know you can get.

And c. The no-go number, aka don’t waste my time or I can’t live on less than X.
Be proactive and voice your needs and your views when it comes to money. Keep the door open but give a solid range.”

 And if the responsibility of the job seekers is to know their worth, the companies also need to provide the maximum details about the position. “The best way to negotiate a salary when hiring remotely is transparency” says Michael D.Brown, Director of  Fresh Results Institute. For a company to clearly communicate scope of responsibility, working hours or expectations should be systematic for the remote worker to fully understand what the salary for the position should be. “That’s because you can just state hours and miss out on the creative energy or technical sophistication of the job such that the employee starts feeling dissatisfied with the pay when they fully see what the job entails.” Brown states.

And remember, although the pandemic has been disastrous for the job market and has added a layer of stress for job seekers, unless you're desperate for work, walking away is always OK. ”The amount of remote work jobs out there most of the time is tremendous, and you should rarely expect a job significantly below what you think you're worth. Plus, walking away isn't always the end of things. If the prospective client reviews things once you've called it a day, they may come back with another offer.” tells David Bakke, Contributor at National Air Warehouse.

How companies think you should negotiate your remote salary with them in 2020

Following our discussion with VCs about “future of work” trends of 2020 we’ve asked HR experts to share their thoughts on the current situation. 

Between the new paradigm that remote work has been becoming and the loss of employment caused by the health and economic crisis, it’s less and less clear what the future holds for employed and unemployed job seekers. 

We talked with Kyle Elliott, career and life coach at caffeinatedkyle.com as well as with Mark C. Crowley, international speaker and Amazon best-seller author of “Lead from the heart”, who kindly shared with us their thoughts and predictions on the Future of Work.

Amid all these changes, how does the current job market affect job seekers?

Booming sectors are going to benefit from the situation. Both from an economic and people perspective.


“As a job seeker, it may behoove you to seek out companies where business is booming — online grocery, virtual education, social media, and the like.” tells Elliott. 

“The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly impacted the global workforce and the future of work” he continues. “The world will never look the same again after the pandemic. Talent acquisition and management are rapidly changing on the employer side. Networking and job searching trends are also changing as job seekers attempt to keep up with the uncertain future of work”.

 Elliott’s clients -- primarily working in high tech roles in the Silicon Valley -- have seen less unemployment compared to many others. On the contrary, many companies in the Valley have ramped up recruitment and hiring throughout the coronavirus pandemic. 


In difficult times, mental health needs special attention.

“Making people feel safe at work will be critically important in all jobs — not just start-ups.” stresses Crowley. “But fears of survival will be on the minds of employees so being transparent about your business plan and challenges will ensure you keep talented people from seeking new jobs”. Keeping people feeling connected is also going to matter in the months, even years, to come.  “Working from home has already been accomplished” tells Crowley, “so many Orgs say, “Let’s just keep it going.”  But if leaders aren't staying in close personal contact with their people — and keeping people feeling connected to the team — they will inevitably fail.  Over-invest in people when it comes to how you spend your time”.

If you’ve recently been laid off, Kyle Elliott recommends to take time for yourself -- if you can. “This is especially important during the coronavirus pandemic. Taking time for yourself and your self-care will not jeopardize your job search. If anything, resting, relaxing, and recharging will boost your success because you will be in a better, more centered headspace”.

 He adds that practicing self-care and self-love will contribute to the overall well-being and will eventually be beneficial for job seekers to move forward with their job search. 

 “Companies are still hiring and interviews are still taking place despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Significantly, I have had clients receive interviews or job offers every single week of the pandemic. Every single week! Your search will be more fruitful if you believe you will achieve success”.


The pandemic can be seen as the start of something new. Don’t shy away.

“You have to find and own your secret sauce” says Kyle Elliott. “Learning what makes you fabulous will help you to stand out from the other 250, 1,000, 10,000+ people applying for the same job. Ensure you have examples and stories to share that back up how you are the perfect fit for the company and the position you are applying to”.

 That being said, he recommends being strategic about outreach and taking the time to craft a message that is intentional and adds value, as we only get one first impression. 

 At Wanted, we recommend to “start looking before even starting to look” for a new job -- a platform such as Wanted allows you to anonymously stay updated about the latest job opportunities without the need to apply to any job. It’s important to maintain the bargaining power, to not be desperate and walk away if needed from a job opportunity. Knowing your worth -- even in times of crisis -- remains important. To not panic is also important, reminded us Mark C. Crowley, “my suggestion would be: don’t succumb to fear — or the idea that a recession is no time to start a business.  Innumerable great companies were founded in times just like this”.

 To conclude, Elliott reminds us that it’s critical to recognize that the job search and interview processes are rapidly evolving “Start getting comfortable with networking online. Be prepared to conduct interviews via video. And, get ready to accept offers without meeting the team in-person”. 

Following our discussion with VCs about “future of work” trends of 2020 we’ve asked HR experts to share their thoughts on the current situation. 

Amid all these changes, how does the current job market affect job seekers?

How to survive in a post-pandemic job market according to HR Experts

At some point in their careers, everyone feels the need to move on and make a change in their lives. Whether it just be changing company, or shifting career completely, there are a number of reasons for someone wanting a new job. 

Interestingly, salary is one of the biggest reasons for people wanting to leave their jobs. Recent research shows that 70.82% of people who have quit their job did so due to money. Interestingly, it differed between the various age groups, with few Baby Boomers being motivated to look for new jobs due to lower incomes. 

Compared to Millennials, only 58% Baby Boomers said that they would leave their job due to an unsatisfactory salary, whereas millennials topped the 70% margin. 

So, if you are wanting to leave your current job due to feeling unsatisfied with your salary, you are not alone. We thought we would take a look at the ways that you can negotiate the salary you want in your next job.  

The first thing you need to know before entering any negotiation is how much you can actually ask for. Start with doing some research into the industry to establish what other people are earning who are similar to your role. 

You will need to keep your skills, education and level of experience in consideration. If you have only been in the role for around two years, you will not be able to ask the same as someone who has six years of experience. So, keep all of these factors in mind. 

If you're relocating to a new city and don't know what the cost-of-living is in your next city you can also check out the Relocation calculator that we've created so you know what you should be making to maintain your living standards. This can be a great starting point to establish what you will be requiring from your next position. 

You need to think of yourself as an investment that the company is making, so approach this as a sales pitch. What can you offer them? What can you do differently? How can you make an impact? It is really helpful to take in some stats from your current or old job that shows what you achieved there. 

How did you double traffic to their site?

What was the multi million dollar client that you brought into the company?

Was the rebranding of the company spearheaded by you?


These kinds of achievements will land you favourably in a position where you can ask for more money. The company will know why they are investing that much more in you as your output will work favourably for them.

It is also important to know who you are approaching for this increased salary. In certain cases, you could find that the company will not be able to afford a more than they are offering. Start-ups and SMEs usually cannot afford the same as one of the corporate giants, so knowing who you are approaching is important. 

In certain cases like this, the long-term payoff for a role could be worth taking a lower salary than you expect. You could request shares or higher commissions based on your performance, so don’t write start-ups off if they cannot meet your salary requirements. 

Take the Whole Package into Consideration 

When discussing your salary with a potential employer, find out what other benefits come with the job. Sometimes the package includes elements that they have not disclosed in the early stages that could make the whole thing worth your while. 

Is there a car or housing allowance? What do your commission structures look like? What are the bonuses? Sometimes allowances and benefits far outweigh a take home salary, so find out what added benefits they have. 

When negotiating your salary, always go in a bit higher than what you are actually looking for. But keep in mind not to be unrealistic because you could just seem out of their price range and put them off completely. 

Adding a buffer is a great idea if you do want to get your salary needs met. Keep in mind that there will probably be some back and forth about the final amount, so don’t undersell yourself from the start. 

Confidence is what is going to win you that monthly package that you are looking for. But overconfidence could kill the deal. Make sure you are approachable to the potential employers and understand that likeability is a very important factor in them making the final decision. If they don’t feel like they can like you and you won’t fit in, you probably won’t get the job. 

In saying that, being firm and confident about your needs and requests will also create mutual respect. They will know that you are a go-getter and that you can achieve what you want. So, keep that chin held high, and be proud of your accomplishments. 

Before you go in, make sure you are prepared. Rehearse a few times, ask a friend to help you and have talking points ready. Knowing what you have to offer is vitally important and you will need to be ready to provide the hiring manager with the key points about your value add. 

Be prepared for them to reject at least one or two of your suggestions. But also know when to walk away. If you are not going to be earnin g what you want in the job, you are most likely going to be unhappy and this might not be the right fit for you. Walking away could be a strong sign to the company that you know your worth. 

Earning what you want should not be difficult. In fact, on the Wanted platform, potential employers can only see you skills, expertise and your salary requirements, and if they cannot afford you, they will simply move on to the next candidate. This means that the whole process of negotiating your salary is omitted from the process, so if this is something that makes you really uncomfortable, you don’t have to do it. It is a great way for employers and employees to go into the process knowing exactly where you stand when it comes to money. 

How Can I Negotiate My Salary for My Next Job?

On the face of it, recent events and consequently the move to remote work for many businesses due to the Coronavirus pandemic seemed neither good nor bad, just simply necessary. However, one of last week’s most viral Silicon Valley news added a “barbaric” twist to all this. In a recent announcement by Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook employees who move out of the Bay Area during the pandemic will face a cost-of-living salary adjustment - and not upwards as you can guess. While predicting that the company will move to hire more remote workers to achieve a 50% share in its workforce in the next 10 years, those that will change their location by January 2021 will see their salary reconsidered. Citing that this is necessary for tax reasons, Zuckerberg added that “There’ll be severe ramifications for people who are not honest about this”, sending a chilly message to workers who thought this might actually be a good development.

The shocking news from Facebook gives us a glimpse of what other companies are preparing and what the future of silicon valley might look like, assuming that this is just the beginning of a trend. 

Silicon Valley heavily affected by the pandemic 

The coronavirus has been slamming tech companies and hit Silicon Valley hard. The industry has already cut more than 40,000 jobs as of mid-March, the beginning of the pandemic and the situation is getting worse  with the month of May being the harshest. 


Recent U.S. layoffs now exceed those during the Great Depression in sheer numbers, and could end up rivaling the 1930s in percentage terms also according to Bloomberg. Although not all companies have been hit in the same way by the pandemic [notably that Amazon has added 175,000 new jobs and companies such as aforementioned Facebook and also Apple have no plan to cut jobs] it’s clear that companies are looking to cut costs and that hiring in Silicon Valley will be slowing down at least in the short to medium term and maybe even longer.

Facebook is one among many tech companies, small and large alike, to announce a remote work strategy that won’t be changing anytime soon. 

Remote work will reshape the housing market

The demand side shock on the housing market, triggered by the perspective of remote work being proactively pursued by companies -- such as Facebook announcing a plan to achieve a 50% share of remote workers in 10 years -- is opening new opportunities for workers and a freedom to choose  where to live. 

In a recent study published by Savills, there is a common trend among the UK housing markets in how they are changing in the face of Covid 19. According to the residential global market sentiment survey they conducted, 73% of respondents feel that green space will become a priority for urban buyers with an additional 61% of respondents anticipating a rise in the demand for rural areas. This tendency, also found on the EU housing market, can most probably also be applied to the U.S housing market.

In the light of these recent developments, we’re sharing 5 trends based on what we learned from the usage of Wanted’s relocation tool by tech workers to try and predict the future of remote work. 

1 - Tech workers will move farther than before

According to the U.S census bureau, last year’s trend was about mobility driven towards the same state. Indeed, between 2018-2019, more than 60% of the people moving within the country were moving to the same state [see chart 1] and more than 40% of them were moving within 50 miles or less [see chart 2]

Chart 1: Mobility on the same state vs. different state per period of time

* data taken from the US census bureau 
** data from Wanted relocation tool usage

Chart 2: Mobility less than 50 miles away from current location vs. 500 miles or more 

Based on the usage and the research done about relocation calculations on our relocation tool, we were able to make a projection on how the trend will look like in 2019-2020; indeed, more than 32% of those moving,will be moving farther than 500 miles away of their current location, versus a tendency that was no higher than 26% in recent years. The trend is reversing already as our data shows that more than half (52%) of tech workers are looking into moving to another state when they plan to switch jobs. 

2- A tech city exodus: NYC and SF will be down prioritized by tech workers.

At the start of the COVID-19 lockdown, some people already went back to their countryside second homes, quickly leaving the tiny spaces of big cities for fresher air and greener pastures. 

Not surprisingly, tech workers -- especially those with kids -- will consider living on the countryside permanently, leaving the big cities for a better quality life especially given that those working remotely will not need to spend as much time as they used to in a big city office. 

The demand for rural housing already rose earlier this year, and the demand for big city homes has dropped by 20%. According to Redfin CEO, “The people who are selling right now are the ones who have to sell, and that’s still an essential part of the U.S. economy” he adds.

According to our internal data coming from the usage of the Relocation Tool, here are the top cities tech workers were looking to move to.

Chart 3: Top 5 cities* tech workers will be looking to relocate to


It isn’t a surprise to see Phoenix, Arizona as the first place among top cities, tech workers are looking to relocate to. The tech scene in Phoenix has been booming in recent years. With an average salary of $92,246, the city is home to the PHX Startup Week and it has all qualities to become a mini “silicon valley” for remote workers. 

Portland seems also like a nice alternative, with added bonuses such as day trips for nature-lovers and the possibility to explore the wonders around it over the weekend. The tech salary in the city averages $100,000 which can ensure a great quality of life. 

3- 67% of the target relocation cities chosen have a lower rent than their current city


On average, those calculating their cost-of-living if relocating to another city saw their average expenditures drop 48% compared to their current location. 

If you’re living in New York City as a web developer earning $300,000 a year, planning to move to Phoenix, that will result in a saving of 43% of your current earning, or some odd $130,000 per year. Therefore it’s even possible to find a middle ground if needed and increase your quality of life while lowering your salary at the same time.

On the other hand, a move from Detroit, Michigan to live in San Francisco will result in a need to earn roughly twice more to cover living expenses. 

The cities researched by the Wanted Relocation Tool were saving an average of 63% in rent and more than 38% in groceries for those looking to relocate.

If you’re planning your next move, check out the Wanted Relocation Tool to know what salary you need to earn to get by anywhere in the world.

The “SILICON EXODUS”: The next generation of jobs will not be where you think they will.

One of the biggest considerations, when applying for a new job, is what the salary is going to be for the position. In many cases, discussions around the remuneration usually come later on during the interview process. This could possibly lead to the candidate abandoning the application as their salary requirements have not been fulfilled. 

It is important to do your research in order to know what the average salary is for the position you are applying for. You will need to keep in mind the number of years of being in the position, seniority as well as the skills and expertise you have developed along the way. But if a big salary is what you are looking for, we took a look at the top paying jobs in the US, their average salaries and the level of education needed to work in the field. 

Below is a ranking from the highest paying positions in the US. Please note that these are packages based on the US average.  

The Highest Trajectory of Job Openings in 2020

Interestingly, the job category with the highest amount of openings, just after registered nurses is Software Developers. Due to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for registered nurses has spiked and the projected openings are currently sitting at around 370,000 by the end of the year. However, to become a registered nurse you will be needing a Bachelor Degree. The position also comes with a highly stressful environment and an average paycheck. The demand for home care aides is also expected to soar over the upcoming months as a response to social distancing restrictions and lockdown. 

The projected number of jobs for Software Developers is currently projected at around 241,000 jobs. With companies having to evolve rapidly and adapt to offer online products and services, the need for developers is skyrocketing. It Developers have also been ranked as one of the top most coveted positions to hold in the US. Not only is it a high paying position, but it offers various perks. Due to the fact that the position can be remote, the work/life balance makes it highly appealing. There is an average amount of stress associated with the jobs responsibilities and environment and the future growth projections are incredibly high. 

While you will note that the highest paying positions are mostly in the medical field, a lot of remote and hourly work is not taken into consideration. While most medical-related positions will certainly earn higher than most other fields, there are cases, especially in the computer science fields that hourly, remote work could add up and land the position in one of the top categories. Naturally, one needs to take full packages offered by the company into consideration, but the advantages for some of working from home is boundless. 

If you are battling to get the right salary for your expertise and skill set, there is a solution for you. We, at Wanted understood how frustrating it can be to not be remunerated with the right salary and that the job hunt can be frustrating. We developed an online platform where you can anonymously list your profile on the site, listing only your skills, experience and salary requirements to land that new job. If the company cannot afford you, they will simply move on to the next candidate. But if you match what they are looking for, they will request an introduction and you can interview for the role.  

The Best Paying Jobs in 2020

So, the years of school and studying have finally started drawing to a close, and it's time to start looking for your first job. Let’s face it, things are tough out there for someone who is just starting off in the job market. You are going in as an entry-level candidate with no experience under your belt. It is true what they say, you do have to start from the bottom and work your way up, and usually the bottom is not very lucrative at all. 

Most of the well-paying jobs like surgeons and anesthesiologists take a number of years before they start actually paying well, and you will need to work through several years of gaining valuable experience. But there are some professions that you can start earning a decent salary as soon as you walk into the job. We took a look at these jobs and what you will need to land in the career. 

Development and Digital Take the Forefront 

One thing that you will notice from the list above is that some of the highest paid positions are in the web development and technology fields. People with basic knowledge of software development can start right away in companies and can start earning a relatively good salary. Once you know your specific language and have built up some expertise in the field, there is no tangible career development. Senior developers can become team leaders in their companies, however, the pay difference is not usually high enough for most developers to take it. 

The highest earner, a UX Designer, holds a variety of responsibilities in the organisation. They are responsible for ensuring the experience for the customer is as optimized and streamlined as possible. They conduct user testing, interviews and surveys to determine how people use various software solutions, and then translate this information into sitemaps, wireframes and product prototypes. This is a highly technical role, and similarly to software development, has stunted career development, unless you start working remotely. 

Freelance and Remote Work Needs to be Considered

There are a number of entry-level careers that can be somewhat overlooked in this due to the fact that the work is billed per hour. In many cases, developers and software engineers can fall into this category of remote, hourly billing, but in these cases, your effort and hours put in can determine your take-home salary. 

Positions like community managers, copy and content writers, social media managers and digital marketing strategists can potentially earn a high salary if they build up their portfolio and client lists. In many cases, these positions have the potential to earn more working remotely than they do working full-time for one company. 

Other hourly positions need to be considered too, like dental hygienists, registered nurses, home care assistants and business consultants. These, too, have the potential to earn a high salary from the time they step into the position. Once again, it depends on the amount of work one does that determines the income for the month. 

Walking into your first position and earning what you want can be quite tough. In many cases, your expectations can be a lot higher than what the positions are offering, especially if you don’t have any experience. The best advice is to do a lot of research on the position and find out how much the average salary is. You can then upload your profile onto a platform like Wanted and list your required salary. The rest of the profile will be anonymous, just your skills and expertise will be visible to your potential employers. If your salary matches up to your profile and is within the company's budget, they will request and introduction and be able to view your whole profile. 

Our blog

How companies think you should negotiate your remote salary with them in 2020

How to survive in a post-pandemic job market according to HR Experts

How Can I Negotiate My Salary for My Next Job?

The “SILICON EXODUS”: The next generation of jobs will not be where you think they will.

The Best Paying Jobs in 2020

The Highest Paying Jobs for Beginners in 2020