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Are non-negotiable salaries really non-negotiable?
I’m currently applying to entry level positions in higher education. Job titles include Research Assistant, Program Assistant, and Scholarship Coordinator. Many of these opportunities are grant funded, and quite a few of the applications I come across state that the salary is non-negotiable. Is this really true when included in applications? I understand the field I’m trying to go into, and I understand grant funding. Just wondering if this is actually true, including for positions that aren’t grant funded but are non-negotiable. I’ve been out of college for a few years but am still new at seeking career work and knowing how certain things work.
7 Comments
Katie Kristl
Customer Support & Success Professional, Denver
87
11/13/20 at 3:04PM UTC
I don't work in a university setting, but I have worked for companies where the role is a set salary. Period.
By and large, this doesn't occur all that often. If a company is *specifically* calling out that the salary is non-negotiable in a job posting, I would take that at face value.
The fact that many of these roles are grant funded is also a great indicator that this is the case.
2
Reply
April
96
11/14/20 at 2:13PM UTC
Yes. You can take a look at how you can help to get the program funded once you are in the role, maybe help write the grant with addidional purposes. Grant funds are dedicated funds.
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Pharberknockn07Curriculum & Training Development in Kansas City
199
11/14/20 at 2:23PM UTC
Yes, grant work especially. With higher level positions, (think directors, VPs, etc.) they can sometimes try to squeeze out some money elsewhere in the budget if they’re desperate to have you. But anything lower is typically a set range and that’s it. I’ve also worked on grant projects where it was a set budget of say $30,000 for the Project Manager for the life of the project, and that’s all they had.
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JYJ
1.32k
11/14/20 at 2:36PM UTC
For grant work, it is typically set in stone, but that doesn't mean that you can't inquire (once an offer is made) about potential bonus, raise structure and additional PTO to make up for a lower salary.
1
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Anonymous
11/14/20 at 2:57PM UTC
She is asking about the job postings that are NOT granted funded jobs, isn’t she?
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Rebecca Lee VCredentialing Specialist
2.07k
11/15/20 at 3:37PM UTC
If it says in the JD that the salary is non-negotiable it is because it is based on a budget. For example, I recruited for a roles where the funding came from a package, we budgeted the fund out at the highest possible wage we can offer.
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Beth ScottBe the change you want to see
47
11/16/20 at 3:40PM UTC
In many areas, people will tell you that everything is negotiable. That's not usually the case when it comes to grant-funded positions as each dollar is carefully tracked and there are no other dollars sitting in a pot of money. A grant-funded position may be a good way to get your foot in the door in higher ed, where the bigger pocketbook lives, though I wouldn't expect to negotiate a salary where they make it clear like this.
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