# Salary Desired on a Job Application? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 25, 2000, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salary-desired-on-a-job-application/38229 "2000-10-25T05:46:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Blunt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Blunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blunt)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2000, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salary-desired-on-a-job-application/38229/1 "2000-10-25T05:46:17Z")
Alright, I’m just a college kid filling out an application for a part-time job during school. I don’t know what to put for the salary desired, any suggestions? I’m afraid that if I ask for too much they won’t even call me back, but I’m more afraid that if I don’t ask for enough that they’ll end up paying me less than I should be getting. The job I’m applying for is at Office Depot, and I’m applying for electronics or any needed position. I previously worked at Office Max in electronics where I made 6.50 an hour, and after that I worked a summer job that paid 7.50 but was full-time hours and more labor intensive. I’m thinking about asking for $7.00/hr. on the application. Does this sound reasonable for part-time retail help? Should I ask for more, and will they call me back if I ask for more than they’re willing to pay? If I asked for say $9/hr, I would’t be offended or anything if they called me in for an interview and only offered me $7, but would they even do someting like that? ---
**Author:** ![pricciar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@pricciar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pricciar)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2000, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salary-desired-on-a-job-application/38229/2 "2000-10-25T05:50:20Z")
You could put ‘negotiable’. That way you can discuss salary face to face, you can find out what they regularly pay, that way you will neither underprice yourself, nor price yourself out of the store. good luck! pat ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2000, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salary-desired-on-a-job-application/38229/3 "2000-10-25T12:05:53Z")
My preferred response for an application (different if they’re asking for “salary requirements” in a cover letter) is the phrase “going rate” which implies what THEY pay for THAT position given YOUR experience. RE: Salary requirements in a cover letter, I’d give your current salary (in annual dollars amount). ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2000, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salary-desired-on-a-job-application/38229/4 "2000-10-26T04:45:31Z")
Considering you have experience, you might be able to **get** $9/hour, especially if the store is hurting for help. A lot of the stores around here are hiring HS kids, for whom it’s a first job so they have NO work experience, and are paying them $7/hour (or more). “Negotiable” would be my vote.