How to Answer Salary Expectations in the US, UK and Canada
Decide your salary answer once, per country, and reuse it: USD annual salary in the US with W-2 vs 1099 noted, £ annual salary or day rate in the UK, CAD annual salary in Canada — with a range, not a single number, and a note on when to say 'negotiable'.
Salary examples on this page are illustrative only, to show format. They are not market data. Research the specific role, level and city before giving a number.
US: USD, W-2 vs 1099
Answer in USD per year for permanent roles. Note W-2 vs 1099 for contract roles, because total compensation and tax treatment differ. Use a range, and do not anchor low on the first question.
UK: £, annual vs day rate, notice
Answer in £ per year for permanent roles, or £ per day for contract roles. Give your actual notice period (commonly 1 or 3 months) consistently, and use "CV" where the job asks for a CV.
Canada: CAD, Toronto vs Calgary ranges
Answer in CAD per year. Ranges differ by city and role — Toronto and Vancouver ranges are not Calgary ranges. Research the city, not just the country.
The range formula
Give a range where the bottom is a number you would accept, and the top is a number you can justify from the role and your experience. Do not give a range so wide it says nothing.
When to write 'negotiable'
Use "negotiable" only when the form allows it and you genuinely will negotiate from the employer's range. Do not use it to avoid answering on a form that requires a number — give the range instead.
What not to write
Do not write a single low number to "get in the door", do not write your previous salary unless asked, and do not give different numbers on LinkedIn and Indeed for the same role type.
Country → format → example → note
| Country | Format | Illustrative example | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | USD per year | $140,000–$180,000 (illustrative, from hub copy) | Note W-2 vs 1099 for contract roles |
| United Kingdom | £ per year, or £ per day | £ salary or day rate, as stated by the role | Notice period commonly 1 or 3 months |
| Canada | CAD per year | $110,000 CAD (illustrative, from hub copy) | Ranges differ by city |
Honest gap
ApplyAI Pro reuses a decided salary answer on screening questions. It does not research market rates for you, and it does not negotiate on your behalf.
Frequently asked questions
Should I give a number or a range?
A range, where the form allows it. A single number anchors you low or prices you out.
What if the job asks for a single number?
Give a number inside your researched range, not your minimum, and be consistent across platforms.
How do I handle 1099 vs W-2?
State the basis clearly for contract roles. Do not compare a 1099 rate directly to a W-2 salary without noting the difference.
Continue
- United States job hub — /en-us
- United Kingdom job hub — /en-gb
- Canada job hub — /en-ca
- How to answer the sponsorship question
- F-1 OPT job search
- UK Right to Work
- Canada PGWP job search
ApplyAI Pro natively supports LinkedIn Easy Apply, Indeed Direct Apply, Wellfound. Roles that redirect off-platform to external third-party career portals are intentionally not automated to maintain candidate security and require manual submission.