Salary History/Salary Requirement
How to Write a Resume | Office of Career Services

Salary History

Employers often ask that a salary history be included with cover letters and resumes. There are a few different prevailing theories on how to respond to this. We will present three of them for you to review and let you be the judge. The first is to ignore the request altogether. The argument against this is that by not responding, it may be interpreted that you cannot follow instructions or have something to hide. We do not recommend this.

The second is full disclosure. Some career experts feel that this can hurt you, especially if your previous salaries have been significantly lower than your realistic current salary expectations. On the other end of the spectrum, if your previous salaries have been higher than what your research shows you can expect, such as in the case of someone changing careers after many years, the prospective employer may not consider you. Other professionals feel that full disclosure is proper because you are providing exactly the information that was requested. You could address this by stating “Regarding your request for salary history, in my previous position I made approximately $15,000 a year. However, that was part-time.”

If, after your research, you feel that there is a significant difference, either high or low, you may want to consider the following suggestion. The third take on this is to reply in a political manner and then provide your salary requirement, which many feel, is really all the employer really wants. This could be done by stating that “Regarding your request for salary history, I feel that in my previous positions, I have been adequately compensated. Currently, I am looking for a salary in the thirties. However, I am flexible.”

Whether you choose full disclosure or the final suggestion, the information should be in the body of your cover letter and never on the resume.

Salary Requirement

When an employer requests a salary requirement or salary expectation, you do not need to put it on a separate page. Salary requirements or salary expectations may be included in the body of your cover letter, not on your resume.

Here’s where your research pays off. Before you state a salary requirement, be sure that you have researched your field of interest and know what the salary requirements are so that you are making an informed statement. It is best to use salary ranges instead of one specific salary (see previous example for "Salary History"). If you place a salary range that is too low, you may not get the salary you deserve. If your salary expectations are too high, you may not be considered. Either way, the employer will know that you have not done your homework!