Updated 2026-10-04
A missing salary is common and not fatal. How to estimate the range, when to raise it, and the exact question to ask.
Most postings do not state pay, especially in India. That is normal, and it does not mean the role is underpaid — but it does mean the number is part of the interview, so prepare for it.
A posting's city, company stage and required experience bound the range. A funded product company in Bengaluru hiring “0–2 years” is not paying what a services firm in a smaller city pays for the same title, and salary sites show both extremes without telling you which is which. Use two sources and take the middle.
Not in the first call; not after five rounds. The natural point is when a recruiter asks about expectations or describes the process. “I'm flexible; what range is budgeted for this role?” is a complete answer, and it moves the question back without a number.
Give a band anchored to your estimate and to your current situation, and say what moves you within it. The band is a position; the process will test it.
Ask before accepting. A verbal “we'll figure it out at offer stage” is common and is not a commitment. Ask for the fixed component, variable, and any bond or notice period in writing. A company that declines to put those in the offer is telling you something worth hearing.
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