CHICAGO, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- Many U.S. workers may be missing out on higher salaries by failing to negotiate for higher starting wages, a national survey found.
The employment firm CareerBuilder said a survey with a sampling of nearly 3,000 full-time workers and more than 2,000 hiring managers found 45 percent of employers indicated they expect a negotiation over salary when hiring someone. On the other hand, 49 percent of workers indicated they accept the first offer, failing to push for a higher starting wage.
Fifty-five percent of workers more than 35 years of age indicated a willingness to negotiate a starting salary, compared with 45 percent for younger workers. Men indicated a willingness to negotiate more often than women -- 54 percent of men versus 49 percent of women.
But among various professions, the figures were consistent. Fifty-six percent of workers in professional and business services, indicated they would negotiate their starting wage. Fifty-five percent of workers in information technology and leisure and hospitality jobs, and 54 percent of workers in sales indicated they would negotiate their starting wage, the survey found.
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Although many appear to be missing out on an early bump in salary, 38 percent of employers indicated they have nothing more to offer. Their initial offer is as good as it's going to get.
Other employers indicated they would be flexible on items besides pay. Thirteen percent indicated a flexible schedule was possible and 19 percent indicated they could offer more vacation time.
Some new hires may be missing out on the offer of a company phone. Fourteen percent of hiring managers indicated they would sweeten an offer by paying for a mobile device, CareerBuilder said.
The survey was conducted by Harris Interactive May 14-June 5. The results carry a margin of error of 2.15 percentage points, CareerBuilder said.
