Salary FYI

Counter Offer

Employment

A response to an initial job offer or resignation in which the receiving party proposes different terms — typically higher pay, a better title, or additional benefits.

## Counter Offer

A counter offer is a response that modifies the terms of an original offer. It can come from a candidate responding to a job offer or from a current employer trying to retain an employee who has resigned.

### Types

- **Candidate counter offer**: Responding to a job offer with a higher salary request or additional benefits.
- **Employer retention counter offer**: Matching or exceeding the outside offer to keep the employee.

### Statistics on Retention Counter Offers

- 50–80% of employees who accept a counter offer leave within 12 months anyway.
- Trust may be damaged — the employer knows the employee was looking.
- The underlying reasons for leaving often remain unresolved.

### Effective Counter Offer Tactics (Candidate)

- Be specific about what you want (dollar amounts, not vague requests).
- Frame requests around market data and your value.
- Negotiate multiple items simultaneously.
- Set a reasonable deadline for a response.
- Express enthusiasm for the role.