Free Counter Offer Letter Template

A counter offer letter is a written reply to a job offer that proposes different terms. You accept the role in principle. Then you ask the employer to adjust pay, benefits, schedule, or start date before you sign.

Most hiring managers expect some back-and-forth, so a written reply rarely surprises them. Putting the request on paper also keeps the conversation calm and specific, rather than rushed on a phone call.

Who Sends One

Candidates send this letter, and employers receive it. For example, a software engineer might ask for a higher base salary after comparing local rates. Meanwhile, a nurse relocating across the country might skip the raise and ask for moving support instead.

What It Is Not

This letter is not a rejection, and it is not a demand. Think of it as the next line in a conversation both sides want to finish well. Employers who cannot move on salary will often move on something else. A sign-on bonus, an extra week of leave, or an earlier pay review all count.

Send it after the written offer arrives and before you accept. In that window the employer has committed to you but has not yet closed the role. Your request therefore carries the most weight.

Common reasons to negotiate include:

• Base pay sits below the range you researched
• The bonus or commission structure is unclear
• Remote or hybrid days were discussed but never written down
• The start date lands too close to a commitment you already made
• Paid time off, equity, or relocation support was left out

Timing also matters. If the employer gave you a response deadline, reply well before it, so nobody feels pushed into a decision. Should another company still be interviewing you, mention it honestly or leave it out entirely.

Do a little homework first. Pull two or three salary benchmarks for the same title in your region, and note any benefit the offer left silent. Preparation turns a hopeful request into a reasoned one. That is exactly what a hiring manager needs to take upstairs for approval.

Keep the counter offer letter to one page. Each part below does one job, so the reader can skim it and act.

Thanks and Confirmation

Open by thanking the employer and naming the exact role. Confirm that you want the job, since that reassures them before you ask for anything.

The Terms You Want Changed

State every request as a specific number or date. For instance, name a target salary figure rather than a vague phrase like competitive pay.

Your Reasoning

Give one short reason per request. Market research, a competing offer, or an extra certification all work well here.

Flexibility and Next Steps

Show where you can bend, because that signals good faith. Then close with a clear next step, such as a short call this week.

Your Signature

Sign and date the letter, or send it from your personal email with your full name below. Either way, save a copy for your own records.

What to Leave Out

Personal financial pressure rarely helps your case. Rent increases and family costs are real, yet they say nothing about the value you bring to the role. Ultimatums belong nowhere near the page unless you are genuinely ready to walk away.

1. Read the original offer twice. Note every term, including benefit start dates and bonus conditions.
2. Research your range. Compare pay for the same title, industry, and region before you name a number.
3. Rank your priorities. Decide what matters most, then quietly drop the rest.
4. Draft the letter. The guided form fills in the role, your requests, and your reasoning as you answer.
5. Keep the tone warm. Enthusiasm and a firm ask can sit in the same paragraph without clashing.
6. Send it, then follow up. Give the employer a few business days before you check in politely.

Once both sides agree, request an updated written offer. Verbal promises fade fast, so revised terms belong in the document you eventually sign.

Expect a middle outcome. Employers frequently approve part of a request, so decide in advance which single change would turn the offer into a yes. Knowing that answer keeps the second conversation short.

A counter offer letter is a proposal, not a signed contract. Sending one usually ends the original offer as written. After all, you have replied with different terms instead of accepting the ones you got.

That detail surprises many candidates. If the employer declines, they may return to the first offer, or they may withdraw it altogether. So negotiate only when you would still be glad to take the role at the original terms.

Rules on offers, acceptance, and withdrawal vary by state and by company policy. Check your state’s official website for the general picture, and ask the recruiter how their approval process actually runs. Company size also shapes how far a negotiation can travel. Large employers often work inside fixed pay bands set months earlier, whereas a smaller business may have more freedom but tighter cash. Asking how the salary was set tells you which conversation you are actually in.

Some situations run deeper than pay. For equity grants, visa sponsorship, or an existing non-compete, an hour with a local employment attorney is money well spent.

Ready to reply with confidence? Start your counter offer letter now and have it ready to send in minutes.