3 top tips on how to decline disclosing your salary
In this blog, we’ll share practical tips on how to politely decline sharing your salary, explain why some employers ask for it, and show you how to keep the conversation professional and confident.
16th Oct 2026
When you're interviewing, you may be asked about your current salary — and if you're not sure what to say, it can sometimes be uncomfortable.
But you don't have to disclose your salary. It's personal information that you can choose to share or keep private.
These tips will help you figure out how to decline to disclose your salary while remaining polite and professional.
1. Politely decline 🙅
We'll say it louder for the people in the back: salary disclosure isn’t obligatory. That means you can politely decline to share this information, and explain that you’d prefer to have a fair negotiation based on your expertise, skills, and experience.
After all, a company that is fair and has good values will only respect you for this. And a company that has a problem with you not giving them a number may well be one you'd rather avoid anyway.
If you are unable to negotiate a fair reward for your experience, you’ll likely feel unhappy when joining the company. So, don’t be scared to assert yourself early, because you’ll be happier in the long run.
2. Share your desired salary range instead 💰
Another way to avoid disclosing your salary is to tell your prospective new employer that you’d like to hear more about the opportunity, and instead ask them what salary range is on offer for the position.
Of course, you might not need to ask this question if your prospective employer is practicing salary transparency in their job descriptions. In that case, you'll already be armed with this information when you walk into the interview room.
If they push you for a number, you could share your desired salary range instead.
3. Remind the interviewer that this is confidential 🔒
If you're facing resistance from your interviewer, you can politely explain that salary information is confidential and remind them that you don’t need to share it.
If the employer is being persistent, you could ask their reasoning for wanting to know. Most employers won’t ask you, so if a hiring manager or HR professional does, pay close attention to how they respond to your answer and how they treat you after the conversation about salary disclosure. It can be a good indicator of what the culture and leadership are really like.
How do I know what salary I should be asking for? 🌟
Knowing when and how to negotiate your salary can feel tricky — that's why we're here to help.
We’ve put together a quick 2-minute quiz that will give you a Salary Negotiation Score and a clearer picture of where you stand.
You'll find out if your current salary is above or below the average for your role, and how ready you are to have the money conversation with confidence.
You can take the quiz here.
We’ve also got some tips on how to get noticed by employers and interview tips that could help you during your job search.
FAQs about salary disclosure
Why do employers ask about your current salary?
Employers often ask to understand your earning expectations or to see if you fit within their budget. However, salary history isn’t always the best indicator of your value. Your skills, experience, and the role’s market rate matter more.
Do I have to disclose my salary to a potential employer?
No, you don’t have to. It’s perfectly acceptable to say you prefer to discuss your expectations instead. You could respond with something like, “I’d rather focus on the salary range for this role and how my experience aligns with it.”
How can I decline to share my salary politely?
Keep it short and professional. You could say:
“I prefer to focus on the value I can bring to this role and the range you’ve budgeted for it.”
This keeps the conversation positive while protecting your privacy.Can not sharing my salary hurt my chances of getting the job?
In most cases, no. Many employers respect your choice not to disclose it, especially as pay transparency becomes more common. If you communicate your expectations clearly and professionally, it won’t work against you.
How can I prepare for salary discussions in interviews?
Research the typical pay range for the role, know your non-negotiables, and practice how you’ll phrase your response. Being prepared helps you sound confident and informed, even if you choose not to share your exact salary. You can also take our salary negotiation quiz which benchmarks your salary and shows you how ready you are to negotiate.