On a job application, leave an optional desired-salary field blank or write "negotiable". If the field is required, enter a researched range for the job in your state — with a bottom you'd genuinely accept — or the posted range if the listing shows one. Never just copy your current salary.
What should you put in the desired salary field?
It depends on what the form allows.
| Field type | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Optional, free text | Leave blank, or "Negotiable" / "Open to discussion" |
| Required, free text | A researched range, e.g. "$72,000–$80,000 base, depending on the full package" |
| Required, numbers only | The bottom of your researched range (a number you'd accept) |
| Required, with the posted range in the listing | A number in the upper part of the posted range |
| Asks for "current salary" | Leave blank if allowed, or write "Prefer to discuss" |
Why not just write "negotiable" everywhere? Some applicant tracking systems filter out blanks or text in required number fields. When a number is required, a researched one is safer than a guess.
Range, single number or "negotiable"?
A range works best on applications. You don't know the bonus, benefits or exact scope yet, and a range shows flexibility. Keep it reasonably tight — about 10–15% from bottom to top. Make the bottom a number you'd be happy with, because employers tend to read the bottom.
A single number is better later, once you have an offer and know the package. On an application, a single number can anchor you too early.
"Negotiable" is fine when the field is optional or accepts text. It signals you're open without committing to a number.
What does DOE mean?
DOE stands for "depending on experience." You'll see it in job postings like "Salary: DOE" or "$60,000–$75,000 DOE". It means the employer will set your pay based on your background. Two practical points:
- If a posting says DOE with a range, expect your offer inside it. Your experience is your argument for the upper part.
- If a posting says DOE without a range, ask the recruiter for the budgeted range in the first call. Some states and cities require employers to publish pay ranges in postings; if yours does and the listing doesn't, ask.
Related terms: "commensurate with experience" means the same as DOE; "competitive salary" means nothing specific — ask.
How to build your range from data
- Find the job's pay range in your state from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Check your job here.
- Pick your zone by experience: roughly the 25th to 50th percentile for 0–2 years, the median to the 75th percentile for 3–5 years, and the 75th to 90th for 10+ years.
- Round to clean numbers. Make the bottom a number you'd accept and the top about 10–15% higher.
Examples for three jobs with real BLS numbers
These use national BLS OEWS May 2025 data (annual base pay). Use your state's numbers when you can.
| Job | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile | Desired salary, 3–5 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dental Assistants | $44,340 | $48,070 | $58,090 | $48,000–$58,000 |
| Human Resources Specialists | $58,610 | $75,940 | $99,380 | $76,000–$99,000 |
| Civil Engineers | $79,930 | $100,840 | $129,680 | $101,000–$130,000 |
Dental assistant, 4 years' experience: in a required text field, you might write "$48,000–$58,000, depending on the full package". In a numbers-only field: $48,000.
HR specialist, 1 year of experience: the zone is lower — roughly the 25th percentile to the median, $59,000 to $76,000.
Civil engineer, 12 years' experience: the 75th to 90th percentile — $130,000 to $163,000.
Hourly jobs and part-time roles
If the job is paid by the hour, give an hourly range — "$24–$27 per hour" — not an annual figure. To convert an annual BLS figure to an hourly one, divide by 2,080 (40 hours × 52 weeks). For part-time roles, use the hourly rate, not a pro-rated annual salary, so the comparison stays clear.
Some jobs also pay shift differentials, overtime or on-call pay. Keep those out of your desired-salary number; ask about them separately once you talk to the employer.
Different kinds of applications
- Online portals (Workday, Greenhouse and others): the field is often required and numbers-only. Enter the bottom of your researched range.
- Email applications: only mention salary if the posting asks for "salary requirements". Then use the cover-letter sentence below.
- Staffing agencies and recruiters: they usually ask early and directly. Give your researched range and ask what the client has budgeted — agencies often know.
- Internal applications: you know more about the company's levels. Ask HR for the pay range of the new role before you write a number.
Text you can paste
What happens next
Desired salary on an application is a filter, not the negotiation. The real conversation comes when a recruiter asks "What are your salary expectations?" and later when you get an offer. Prepare for both:
I put a range on the application to give you a sense of fit. Before we go further on numbers, could you share the range you've budgeted for this role?
See how to answer salary expectations and how to negotiate salary.
Does the desired salary field hurt your chances?
It can, in two ways: a number far above the budget may screen you out before anyone reads your résumé, and a number far below it may anchor your future offer low. A researched range protects you from both. If your honest range sits above the posted range, it's still reasonable to apply — state your range and let your experience make the case in the interview.
If you're changing careers or moving to a lower-cost area, look at the market range for the new job in the new state, not at your old salary. That's the number the employer will compare you with.
Mistakes to avoid
| Mistake | Why it hurts | Instead |
|---|---|---|
| Entering your current salary | Anchors the offer to your old pay | Use the market range for the new role |
| A very wide range ("$50k–$90k") | They read the bottom | Keep it within 10–15% |
| A bottom below your real target | Employers often offer the bottom | Make the bottom a number you'd accept |
| Writing "$1" or "0" to skip a required field | Looks careless; may get filtered | Enter the bottom of your range |
| Guessing without data | Too low or too high | Check the BLS range for the job and state |
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Related: Salary expectations · How to negotiate salary · Am I underpaid?