Each government job has a salary range defined by steps within a pay grade. There is a range that the HR specialist and supervisor may have in mind to offer you, depending on your years of experience, specialized experience, your critical skills, and - very importantly - the agency's budget. If the salary range is $43,000 to $50,000, you should have no problem getting $44,000 or even $48,000 for this job.
Some points for negotiation
Get acquainted to the federal government's General Schedule Pay Scale.
Structure and the US Office of Personnel Management is the right place to start with. For instance if you are offered a job as a GS 9, the first "step" in Grade 9, according to the GS Pay Scale, is $41,563. The highest level in GS 9 -- Step 10 -- pays $54,028. Locality Pay Scales show how pay rates vary depending on the job's location.
Within Your Grade
A reasonable goal is to negotiate your step within your grade level. If you're in Grade 9, you can request a Step 8, Step 10 or any step based on any of the following reasons:
A 10 percent raise for career-development and advancement objectives.
You will incur substantial travel and relocation expenses to move to the new position, and therefore, need additional funds (since the agency may not specifically pay for the relocation expenses).
You believe that you have specialized experience
You have been offered a position by another firm at a starting salary of $54,000 (or whatever might be true).
You need a minimum of Step 10 ($54,028) since you will be relocating to a geographic area with a higher cost of living and require additional income to support your family and needs.
The Perks
Consider negotiating for additional incentives to enhance your overall package:
Tuition Reimbursement for Student Loans: Some agencies pay up to $500 per month toward student loans. To learn more about the government policy for hiring incentives and tuition reimbursement, check out the Student Loan Repayment Program questions and answers.
Recruitment Bonus Incentives: Some agencies may pay a Recruitment Bonus Incentive for Critical Skills or Severe Shortage positions. Depending on its need, the agency could pay up to 25 percent of your annual salary.
Relocation Allowance: Unless the vacancy announcement specifically states that the agency will not pay for relocation, you can ask for a relocation allowance.
