Counter offer letter generator

The four-part structure

A good counter-offer letter follows a predictable order, and the generator follows it:

1. Thanks. Say you are glad to receive the offer, and that you want the role.
2. The ask. State the number or term you want, once, without hedging.
3. The reasons. Tie the ask to your leverage in a few lines.
4. The next step. Suggest a call or a reply date.

Short beats long. The goal is to open a conversation, not to win an argument in writing.

Warm suits smaller companies, roles where you will work closely with the hiring manager, and anyone who is nervous about asking. It keeps the enthusiasm visible while you ask for more.

Direct is tighter and more businesslike, which suits larger organisations and recruiters who handle many offers. It says the same things in fewer words.

If you are unsure, pick warm. You can trim it afterwards with the tone changer.

What counts as leverage

The strongest leverage is specific and checkable: results you delivered in a similar role, skills the job description asks for, published pay ranges for comparable roles, and an offer you actually hold from another employer.

Do not bluff. Mentioning a competing offer you do not have can end the process if they ask to see it, and the tool will not add one for you. If you have little leverage, say so in the box and the letter will lean on enthusiasm and fit instead.

The full strategy, including what to say if they answer "that is our best offer", is in the salary counteroffer script guide. For scripts beyond the first offer, such as raises and promotions, see the complete salary negotiation scripts guide.

When to send it and what to decide first

When you send a counter matters almost as much as what it says.

• Reply promptly, but not instantly. A day or two to think is normal and signals care. Ask for the time if you need it: most employers expect it.
• Make the ask once, in one place. A letter that restates the number three times reads as pressure. State it clearly and move on.
• Set a next step. End by suggesting a call or a date by which you would like to reply, so the conversation does not stall.
• Know your floor. Before you send, decide the lowest package you would accept and whether you would walk away. The letter cannot decide that for you.
• Get the final terms in writing. A verbal yes is not an offer. Wait for the revised letter before you resign anywhere.

If they come back with part of what you asked, treat it as a normal outcome. Many negotiations end with a number between the two, plus a smaller extra such as leave or a review date.

Base salary is not the only lever. When the number will not move, you can ask for a sign-on bonus, a later or earlier start date, more leave, a title change, remote or hybrid days, a review at six months, or a learning budget. List the ones you care about in the target box and the letter will name them.

If you are weighing a job against a current employer, you may also need to write a resignation letter once you accept. Before accepting, have the full contract reviewed; the AI contract review guide explains what to look for.

The tool is free with a few runs a day and no account, and takes up to 6,000 characters per field. It writes from what you paste and nothing else, so it cannot know market rates or your employer's pay bands. For research on current pay, use the web search in Copilotly chat, which shows sources you can check.

This is general writing help, not employment or financial advice.

If the answer is "that is our best offer"

Ask whether anything other than base pay can move: sign-on bonus, review date, leave, start date. Employers with a fixed salary band often have more room on those. The counteroffer script guide has wording for this exact moment.

If they meet you halfway

A number between the two is a normal result. Decide before you reply whether it clears your floor. If it does, accept in writing and ask for the revised offer letter.

If they withdraw the offer

This is rare when the request is polite and specific, but it can happen. It is one reason to ask only for terms you would be glad to receive and to know your walk-away point in advance.

Check public pay data for your role and place

Official sources help anchor the figure. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes pay information by occupation, and CareerOneStop's salary finder gives ranges by location. Both show broad ranges, so treat them as a starting point and adjust for your level and employer size.

Ask for a figure you can defend

Round numbers are easy to dismiss and oddly precise ones are easy to question. Choose a figure in the upper part of the researched range and tie it to what you bring. If a job posting listed a pay range, quote it. Some US states and other countries require employers to publish ranges, so check what applies where you live.

Fairness and equal pay

Pay should not depend on protected characteristics. The EEOC explains what US employers may not do. If you suspect a pay gap, that is a separate step from a counter-offer letter.

No. This page is about the offer you receive from a new employer. When your current employer responds to your resignation with more money, that is also called a counter-offer, and the decision is different. Before you resign, read the resignation letter generator page, which covers what to expect when you give notice.