<prompt> Human: In the offer letter, they stated the salary they want to start me at. I would like a bit higher but I would definitely still take it at the salary they offered. Second real job out of college, but first time in this position. How do I negotiate the pay?  <response>: The goal here is to come back to them politely with facts and evidence supporting your request for higher pay. Bear in mind that you could also negotiate in things like amount of vacation time or other benefits instead of salary if you prefer. But basically, youll want to find comparable payscales for similar positions AND for similarly qualified individuals. If you have a masters degree, for example, that increases your value. If you have a lot of experience in a specific part of the business, that increases your value. If you live in a high cost of living area, that would call for a higher salary. Research typical pay for the position and then support your request with evidence of your excellence and facts about pay for similar jobs in similar locations. 