Should You Mention Salary Expectations in a Cover Letter

Generally no, unless explicitly requested.

1. If the posting explicitly asks for a salary range, provide a realistic range based on research — don't ignore the instruction.
2. If not asked, leave it out entirely — the cover letter's job is to get you an interview, not negotiate compensation.
3. Mentioning salary unprompted can prematurely anchor the conversation before they've assessed your full value.
4. Save detailed compensation discussion for later in the process, ideally after an offer is on the table.

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