Use this page when the offer is clearly below market or below your expectations. The goal is to reject the low anchor politely, reframe around market value, and move the employer toward a better package.
Generate my lowball-offer letter →Acknowledge the offer positively before pushing back.
Use market evidence to explain why the number feels low.
Give a clean target or range that is easy to respond to.
A lowball offer is one that comes in meaningfully below the market rate for the role, level, and location. Sometimes it is deliberate. Sometimes the employer simply does not know what they should be paying. Either way, the right response is the same: stay calm, stay engaged, and push back with data rather than emotion.
The worst thing you can do is accept immediately or walk away without a counter. Both leave value behind. A well-structured counter-offer gives the employer a clear path to paying you fairly — and most will take it.
Start by acknowledging the offer and confirming your interest in the role. Then name the gap directly: the offer is below what market data shows for this position and you would like to discuss bringing it closer to that range. Keep the tone factual and collaborative, not disappointed or confrontational.
Provide one or two data points to support your counter — a salary range from a credible source like Glassdoor or LinkedIn Salary, or a competing offer if you have one. Then give your target number or range and invite the employer to respond. That structure makes it easy to say yes.
If the employer refuses to move at all after a reasonable counter, that tells you something about how they value the role and the people in it. Some companies are simply not able or willing to pay market rates. Knowing that before you start is more useful than finding out after six months.
If they do move but not far enough, consider the full package. Sign-on bonuses, earlier review dates, additional vacation, and remote flexibility can close a gap that salary alone cannot. Get any agreements in writing before accepting.
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