How to Answer Salary Expectations in Canada (With Examples)
Exactly how to answer 'what are your salary expectations' in Canadian interviews — 3 scripts (range, deflect, anchor), how to research the band, and what not to say.
Reviewed by Canadian recruitersJobeefy editorialPublished May 6, 2026Updated May 6, 20267 min read
Salary expectations is the trickiest interview question because most candidates answer too low. Here are 3 scripts that work in Canada.
When the question gets asked
- Recruiter screen: 80% of the time. They use it to filter.
- Hiring manager: rarely; most leave it to recruiting.
- Final round: as part of offer prep — by this point, the band should be clear.
How to research the range first
Before any interview, lock down a 3-source range:
- Job Bank wages for the NOC.
- Glassdoor / LinkedIn Salary for the company + city.
- Levels.fyi for tech, or industry surveys for non-tech.
Build a band: floor (would walk away under), target (realistic ask), ceiling (anchor for negotiation).
Script 1 — give a range
Script 2 — deflect to the recruiter
Script 3 — anchor high (senior)
What not to say
- "Whatever you think is fair." Anchors you low.
- Your current salary, unprompted.
- A single number with no range. Always give a band.
- "I'm flexible." Same effect as the first one.
Generate the rest of the interview prep
Likely behavioural and culture-fit questions for the role.
Before the screen
0/5 · 0%Pair with the common Canadian interview questions guide.