Counter Offer Email Examples You Can Copy

A good counter offer email is short, warm, and specific: it thanks the employer, restates your enthusiasm, names one clear number with a brief reason, and asks an open question. Below are three counter offer email examples you can copy and adapt, for a base salary counter, a package counter when base is capped, and a counter backed by a competing offer. This is career coaching, not legal or financial advice, and the figures are placeholders you should replace with your own benchmarked numbers.

What every counter offer email needs

• Gratitude and enthusiasm: open by thanking them and confirming you want the role.
• One clear number: a single target reads as decisive, not greedy.
• A short justification: tie the number to your experience and the market range.
• An open question: "Is there flexibility?" keeps the door open and invites a reply.
• Brevity: aim for under 150 words. A wall of text dilutes the ask.

For help choosing the number itself, use a counteroffer calculator.

Example 1: Base salary counter

Subject: Re: Offer for Senior Product Manager

Hi Priya,

Thank you so much for the offer. I am genuinely excited about the role and about joining the team.

Based on my experience leading similar product launches and the market range I am seeing for this position, I was hoping we could move the base salary to 132,000 USD. Everything else in the offer looks great, and I would be ready to sign once we land on the number. Is there flexibility on base?

Thanks again, and looking forward to your thoughts.

Best,
Sam

Swap in your role, your number, and one concrete reason. Keep it to a single ask. See more wording in negotiation scripts.

Example 2: Package counter when base is capped

Subject: Re: Offer for Data Engineer

Hi Marcus,

Thank you again for the offer, I am thrilled about the opportunity.

I understand the base salary may be fixed at this level. If that is the case, would you be open to a signing bonus of 15,000 USD, or to revisiting the equity grant? Either would help close the gap to the market range I was targeting, and I am very ready to move forward.

Happy to hop on a quick call if that is easier. Thank you for working through this with me.

Best,
Alex

This pivots to total compensation without losing momentum, which often unlocks value when base will not move.

Example 3: Counter backed by a competing offer

Subject: Re: Offer for UX Designer

Hi Dana,

Thank you for the offer. Your team is my first choice, and I would love to make this work.

I want to be transparent: I have another offer at 118,000 USD. Your role is the one I am most excited about, so if you can match or come close on base, I am ready to accept right away. Is that something you can explore?

Thank you, and I appreciate you considering it.

Best,
Jordan

Only mention a competing offer if it is real and you would genuinely consider it. Honesty keeps the conversation credible.

Lines to personalize before you send

1. The number: replace placeholders with your benchmarked target, typically 10 to 20 percent above the offer.
2. The reason: name one specific, relevant accomplishment or the market range for your role.
3. The lever: base, signing bonus, or equity, depending on where the room is.
4. The names: use the recruiter or hiring manager's actual name and the exact role title.

For sending and follow-up etiquette, see negotiating a job offer over email.

The takeaway

A strong counter offer email is brief, grateful, and specific, with one number and one reason. Copy an example above, swap in your benchmarked figure, and keep it under 150 words. Counteroffer drafts a personalized counter offer email around your real numbers in minutes. These figures are examples and this is coaching, not legal or financial advice. See pricing to get started.