# Salary Negotiation Calculator: 3 Numbers You Need Before You Ask

> Free salary negotiation calculator. Enter your target and get your opening ask and walk-away number, then test them against a real offer.

The Raise Plan — Free Tool

# The 3-Number Calculator

From Chapter 7 of The Raise Plan. Turn your researched target into a defensible opening ask and a walk-away point — then stress-test them against a real offer.

## Step 1 — Your three numbers

This is the core of the tool. Everything else on this page is optional.

Your target (from Chapter 6’s research)

Your specific, triangulated market number — not a round figure.

Opening ask padding

        8%

Chapter 7 recommends 5–10% above target (8% by default). Outside that range the ask stops working well.

Opening ask: enter a target above

Your walk-away number

Decided on a calm day, before any pressure. Normally the low end of your researched range from Chapter 6. This tool does not calculate it for you — that number has to be yours.

## Your three numbers

Reuse these directly in the Email Generator below, or in the Email Swipe File and Letter Template from the full kit.

Walk-away

—

Target

—

Opening ask

—

## Step 2 — Convert to total compensation value (optional)

From Chapter 5’s six components, run forward against all three numbers above.

▸

Employer retirement match (%)

Other perks, annual $ value

Bonus type

          No bonus
          Guaranteed
          Performance-tied or discretionary

Target bonus (% of base salary)

% of employees who got the full bonus last year

Blank assumes guaranteed (100%), which may overstate the value.

PTO days, new role

PTO days, current role

Your monthly health premium, current ($)

Your monthly health premium, new offer ($)

## Step 3 — Stress-test against a real offer

From Chapter 7’s stress-testing section. Type in an actual number you’ve received and get the matching response.

The offer you actually received ($)

Your email, to unlock the matching script

Enter a valid email address.

Show my script

We'll send you this script plus occasional negotiation tips. Unsubscribe anytime.

Enter your target, walk-away, and a real offer above to see the matching script.

NEXT STEP

### You have your ask. Now write the email.

Turn the number above into a ready-to-send counteroffer, using the exact five-part structure from Chapter 8.

[Open the Email Generator →](/salary-negotiation-email-generator/)

## How does the salary negotiation calculator work?

The calculator turns one researched number into the three numbers you need before you negotiate.

- **Target.** The specific market number from your research. You enter it.
- **Opening ask.** Your target plus padding. The default padding is 8 percent, and the useful range is 5 to 10 percent. With a target of $86,000, an 8 percent padding gives an opening ask of about $92,900.
- **Walk-away.** The lowest number you would accept. You enter it. The calculator does not choose it for you.

## How do you use it?

1. **Enter your target and your walk-away.** The calculator works out your opening ask.
2. **Add benefits if you want the full picture.** Retirement match, bonus, paid time off, and health premiums are converted into a total compensation value.
3. **Test a real offer.** Enter the number you received to see how it compares with your three numbers.

If you do not have a target yet, start with [salary market research](/salary-market-research/). Once you have your numbers, see [how to counter a job offer](/how-to-counter-a-job-offer/).

    Part of **The Raise Plan: The Complete Salary Negotiation Kit**. Your numbers stay in your
    browser — we only ever ask for your email, and only to unlock your stress-test script. For the full
    reasoning behind every number here, see Chapters 5 through 7 of the full kit. This tool is designed to help you prepare and negotiate with more confidence. It’s an educational resource, not legal, financial, or career advice, and outcomes vary based on your employer, industry, role, and how the conversation unfolds.

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Source: https://theraiseplan.com/salary-negotiation-calculator/
Site index for agents: https://theraiseplan.com/llms.txt