The salary question in an interview is often the trickiest part. The general practice of employers is to ask employees about their salary expectations. To be able to state a range, you should use a tool to calculate salary. These tools make your job easier by making clear how much you should ask based on your experience and skill set.

Start by checking out the salary data

You should start by checking out the usual salary data in your field. Hopefully, there are Government websites that maintain the salary data for employees. Look for the website of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Almost all the common industries have been listed there. When you find the respective industry you are in, calculate salary using the resources made available on the website. You may want to ask for an amount that is slightly more than the average range of salary compatible to your experience and skills. This gives you room for negotiations with your employer. However, do not go for overkill. Asking something that is way beyond the standard rate may result in the rejection of your candidature.

Consult different online job portals

The various online job portals can be of great help to anyone looking to calculate salary range. Most job offers nowadays mention the applicable salary range. This can help you in two ways. First, you get an idea how much the general range is you are looking forward to. Second, you can screen the job offers based on the salary range. Some employers offer salaries that are very low, and rarely do job seekers want to start a new job with a salary that is much less than the expected amount. Unless you are hard pressed to take any job that comes your way, you should actually proceed by job screening.

Consult with job consultants

Starting a job via a job consultant can definitely be helpful. Of course, you have to pay the consultant in most cases. In some scenarios, the consultancies deduct their commission from the employee's first paycheck at the job. Sometimes, consultants are paid by employers to find candidates, so they do not charge anything from the job seekers. Find a good job consultant and discuss your questions with him/her to calculate salary. Remember, it is always in the best interest of the consultancy that you secure a good job, so they try their best to get you one. Besides, they have all the information regarding new openings in various industries.

Be realistic in your salary range

When you are using the tool to calculate salary to see how much you expect, make sure to set a realistic benchmark. Do not overestimate your abilities. Neither should you underestimate your skills. Having a balanced and realistic expectation is necessary to be able to answer when the interviewer pops the salary question. For instance, if you have been working freelance for the past 3 years and have been out of regular office work, then the industry will not treat the freelancing experience as relevant. In that case, you have to consent to an entry level salary, although you know you have the experience.
When you have effectively determined your salary ranges using the various tools and suggestions mentioned above, you should be ready to face interviews.

Whether or not you would like to negotiate with your salary entirely depends upon you. Some companies offer you a negotiation space while some companies operate by a €take it or leave it' policy. It's your call always to choose what you think is best for you.