Salary and offers
How to answer "What is your expected CTC?"
Give a range, not one number: base it on the role and on what similar jobs in your city pay, and keep your walk-away figure near the bottom of the range. Ask how the CTC splits into fixed pay, variable pay and benefits before you agree, and compare against jobs with salary shown on hiARed, where every employer job publishes its range.
Know what CTC includes
Cost to company (CTC) usually includes fixed pay, variable pay or bonus, employer PF contribution, gratuity, insurance, and sometimes ESOPs. Two offers with the same CTC can mean very different monthly take-home. Always ask how the CTC breaks down.
Research before the call
- Look at the salary ranges on similar jobs. On hiARed every employer job shows a range set by the employer, so you can compare like for like.
- Adjust for your experience, skills that are hard to find, city, and work style.
- Decide your walk-away number, the lowest fixed pay you would accept, before the conversation.
Give a range anchored on the role
"Based on the responsibilities we discussed and similar roles in [city], I am looking for a fixed CTC in the range of ₹X to ₹Y lakh. I am flexible depending on the overall package, including variable pay and growth."
Put your walk-away number near the bottom of your range, not at it. If the job post already shows a range, aim within it and explain why you fit the upper half.
When they insist on your current CTC
Be honest; many companies verify it. Then move the conversation back to the role: "My current CTC is ₹X. For this role, given the scope, I am targeting ₹Y to ₹Z." A new role is priced on its own responsibilities, not only on your last salary.
Mistakes to avoid
- Saying "as per company norms". It leaves money on the table.
- Quoting take-home pay when they asked for CTC, or the reverse.
- Ignoring the variable component. Ask how it was paid out last year.
Frequently asked questions
Should I share my expected CTC in the application form?
If the form requires it, give a range. On hiARed the employer's range is visible, so you can match your expectation to it.