Let’s put all these steps into action with a real example. We’ll look at how Sarah, a graphic designer in New York, calculated her desired salary range. Her process shows exactly how each factor adds up to create a well-researched salary target.
First, Sarah checked the market rate for graphic designers. She found the typical range was $50,000 to $60,000 in her area. This became her starting point.
Next, she looked at her special skills. Sarah is an expert in the full Adobe Suite. This advanced skill typically adds $2,000 to the base salary. She also has strong UX/UI design skills, which adds another $4,000 to her value. These skills pushed her range higher than the basic market rate.
Living in New York was a big factor. The high cost of living meant she needed about 20% more than designers in other cities. This helped her adjust her range upward to match her living expenses.
Sarah then calculated her benefits. The company offered great health insurance, solid retirement contributions, and yearly bonuses. These benefits added about $8,000 in value to her total package.
After adding everything up, Sarah’s final desired salary range came to $75,200 to $87,200. Here’s the simple math:
- Base market range: $50,000 to $60,000
- Added value for Adobe skills: + $2,000
- Added value for UX/UI skills: + $4,000
- New York cost of living increase: + 20%
- Value of benefits package: + $8,000
- Final salary range: $75,200 – $87,200
This range gave Sarah confidence in negotiations. She knew her numbers were based on real data, not just guesses. The range was high enough to cover her needs but still realistic for her industry.
