How high should your salary be? We have the answer

Estimating your own worth can be tricky. Many of us accept our employer’s first offer, or enter into negotiations based on loose assumptions, not knowing whether our expectations align with the realities of the job market.

“Our salary statistics ensure you have better cards on hand when negotiating your salary,” says Jan Pieter Groenhof, head of Forskerforbundet's negotiations department.

Forskerforbundet’s salary statistics give you an up-to-date overview of salary levels for researchers and knowledge workers.

"You can filter it by background, experience, education, position, role and tasks," Groenhof says.

“This way, you can find out the average pay for someone in your position with a comparable background and responsibilities. You’ll know your real worth and approach salary negotiations with confidence. Success isn’t about luck—it’s about preparation.”

Our salary statistics

Our salary statistics provide an updated overview of our members' salary levels. Log in to My Page to check the salary statistics.

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Helpful for beginners and veterans alike 

Every year, Forskerforbundet collects the salary data from employees in both the public and private sector to produce updated statistics.

The salary statistics are helpful for those just starting a new job, as well as experienced veterans.

“When you’re a new hire, these statistics will help you ask for the right salary from day one,” Groenhof says.

The statistics are also useful when your tasks evolve, such as taking on more responsibility, experiencing a role change, or making an extraordinary effort.

“Typically, the opportunity to negotiate your salary arises when you take on new tasks or move into a new position. At those points, being able to compare your salary with that of employees in similar roles can be very useful.”

The salary statistics are not only useful in individual negotiations. The figures are also an important factor in central wage settlements with the state, municipalities and other trade unions.

“The more members who share, the stronger and more accurate the statistics. And that means a better result for everyone.”

“A pay raise carries forward throughout your career” 

Negotiating the right salary with your employer can have an important long term effect, affecting your level of income for years to come.

“A salary increase stays with you throughout your career. The figure on your payslip will be higher, which in turn affects both your future salary and pension,” Groenhof says.

In his view, the value of using Forskerforbundet’s salary statistics can equal several years’ worth of membership fees.

“We often say that if you only use the salary statistics once, that alone might cover your Forskerforbundet membership fee for your entire career.”

A personal advisor for salary negotiations 

Forskerforbundet will not only give you the numbers, but also guide you in how to utilize them properly.

“Our skilled local union representatives and experienced advisors in the central staff will guide you on how to submit a claim and how to respond to an offer from your employer. You can also find useful tips on our website for presenting your case in a way that maximizes your outcome,” Groenhof says. 

Seven steps to a good salary claim

How to write a good salary claim for local salary negotiations.

Read our tips

Seeing how much peers with similar backgrounds and responsibilities are earning is a good starting point, but it’s not enough. You also need to highlight your own skills and experience as the foundation for your case.

"We also know which points tend to be effective and which ones to avoid. For example, threatening to quit if your demands aren’t met is rarely a good idea. In such cases, other strategies are usually more effective," Groenhof says.