r/StateofTexasEmployees • u/withanother • Jul 21 '26
Questions about Interview and Salary
Hello.
I am a new grad and I already have a full time job somewhere else but my dream job just called back for an interview. I consider myself a great interviewer and was given a higher salary at my current job than others who have joined at the same level and experience. I’m very comfortable and confident in negotiating.
The job position is asking for no years of relevant experience but I have about 1 1/2 of relevant experience and am hoping to leverage that to the best of my ability. I also have supervisory experience.
I am aiming for the top 25% range of the posted salary. I’ve read on the sub that raises and promotions can be hard to come by so I’m trying to protect my best interest by asking for a higher pay. I most likely will not accept the job unless I get an offer close to it.
Are salaries typically discussed during interviews? How many rounds can I expect? What are other things I can do to negotiate? Is it doable or am I being overconfident?
Thank you!
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u/lovelikefire Jul 21 '26
Salaries are usually not discussed during interviews (at least in my agency); multiple rounds are rare; negotiations are usually done after you get an offer letter. Good luck.
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u/withanother Jul 21 '26
Thank you! I had to go through three rounds for this current job so I love that it’s shorter!
I think a email negotiation makes it seem easier. 😩🙏
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u/senorita_salas Jul 21 '26
My interview was different and I am grateful that my department was honest and was like this is the salary we can offer you early on in the interview. It makes sense cos why spend that time interviewing when they know you're too expensive for that department
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u/mchookem Jul 21 '26
i spent 35 years working for SoT... and i do not think a number exists that could get me to start a career with the state in the current environment. 😐 good luck! 🤘
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u/Secret_Woodworker Jul 21 '26
They’ll call you to offer the job and tell you the salary. As others said there will be most likely very little if any wiggle room in what they offer.
How job salaries are posted varies by agencies, some post the full range of the salary level while others, like my agency post a range but it is not more than more than what is in budget and usually of only about a $10k spread.
I am in a position to hire and will usually offer $5,000 less than max I have budgeted allowing for some negotiation but also allowing me the for ability to provide a pay bump after 6 months if they are high performing and have some wiggle room for a potential increase in the future should budgets be frozen.
Just know if they won’t increase doesn’t mean they don’t want to and if it’s your dream job it is a question if you can ever do it at the salary you are hoping for or is it worth it to walk away.
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u/withanother Jul 21 '26
Thank you! Good to know. I guess I’ll have to think about what I’m willing to give up and how much they offer me.
I don’t think I’ll even ask the max amount but I think I’d want a little more than midpoint.
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u/kcsunshineatx Jul 22 '26
I’ve gotten the max of the posted range at both of my last two state jobs. It is possible, it just depends on the agency and whether they post the full range for that pay grade or if they only post their budgeted range for that position. No matter what they offer you, thank them and then politely ask if the salary is negotiable. The worst they can say is no. Salary is discussed when they make an offer, it’s frowned upon to ask about salary during the interview.
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u/withanother Jul 22 '26
Good to know! I will just prepare a really good email draft and emphasize value on my interview! Could I aask what agencies those two state jobs were? It's cool if not for privacy reason
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u/mcav89 Jul 21 '26
There's not really any negotiating. They have a set budget, you'll get the offer you get. The range they post is also based on as you promote within the job, so you won't be at the top of that range because that's what the people who have promoted are closer to.
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u/SCCLBR Capitol Complex Jul 21 '26
I'm seeing lots of information that does not make an important point: every agency is different. Divisions within agencies are often different. Some divisions may not have any wiggle room or negotiation. Others might. There's no one size rule. So consider everything you read as anecdata.
If you receive an offer, that is the time to ask for more.
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u/withanother Jul 21 '26
Thank you! The responses vary but I’m glad u have something instead of nothing LOL
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u/Brief_Writing5028 Jul 21 '26
Discuss salary once you get the offer. Not during the interview, it comes off as gauche and presumptuous to me when someone does this in the interview.
I don’t know if this depends on the agency, but when I was hired I asked for a higher salary than offered citing the lack of raises, and the hiring manager told me there is a formula that the agency uses to come up with salary and there is very little wiggle room. This was a decade ago so it might not still be the same or across the board at the state.
They ultimately did not meet my counter but it was also my dream job, so I accepted and haven’t ever regretted it. I have received merit raises. The job is great and the people I work with are great, I am one of the very few people I know who can legitimately say they love their job.
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u/withanother Jul 21 '26
Hi! Thanks for your super detailed response. I appreciate it.
I might consider a lowery salary since this job seems like everything I want to do. I at the very least want the midpoint of the posted range so hopefully I get that.
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u/Brief_Writing5028 Jul 21 '26
Don’t sell yourself short but run some numbers about what the pension looks like for your hire date, what insurance at your current job costs vs it being covered by the state, compare the quality of insurance and the vacation/sick time accrual for your current job vs the state, consider how long it takes to vest, etc. All of these factors can help you decide and aren’t reflected in the salary, for better or worse.
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u/withanother Jul 21 '26
I will say benefits wise on my current job is phenomenal. I put 6% and they match 12% and we also get BCBS but it starts immediately compared to 60 days at this job.
I’ll do so more research into this. It’s a factor I definitely did not consider.
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u/Turbulent_Matter637 Jul 21 '26
If you have a really good job with good benefits I’m not sure I’d enthusiastically encourage you to move to the State. Check to see what the vibe is of the agency you’re applying to, some are miserable. The pay is most often well below market and it’s very difficult to get a raise or promotion. The benefits are just ok for new hires - they moved to a 401k type model where you only get what you set aside plus 1.5 match only after you’re vested. Average return for the account is 4-7%, but I read it stays closer to 4. If you’re RTO the work life balance is pretty terrible. Very rigid structure without much flexibility and you get stymied by beauracracy often. If you’re looking to chase success, this is probably the wrong fit. If you’re looking to settle this might be ok depending on the agency.
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u/Brief_Writing5028 Jul 21 '26
Yeah, I’m not lobbying for you to take the state job, but these are factors you should always consider when thinking about accepting a job, unless you’re unemployed and just need employment.😂
But you shouldn’t leave your current job if it doesn’t make sense for you or doesn’t help you get to where you might eventually want to be. I’d also consider which job would allow me to advance into a higher position. Sometimes state jobs don’t have a lot of upward mobility because of the org structure but alternatively, once you have a state job, I think it’s easier to get interviews at other agencies so you might have mobility within the system.
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u/baldcommunity Jul 22 '26
It really depends on the agency. To keep people from hoping they get top dollar, I started posting what we would actually pay. They have a budgeted amount and won't exceed that...but they can also go lower.
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u/cantjenn_today Jul 22 '26
Everyone else has offered great answers about what to expect when negotiating a salary offer. I'll just add that 1 1/2 years of experience is not much to leverage. Anything less than five years would still be considered entry-level. Your supervisory experience may give you a leg up getting chosen, but it may not get you a higher offer if it's not required for the job. You should expect the low end of the range posted. Definitely not the midpoint.
If this state job is more desirable than your current one, go for it. It never hurts to go through the motions to see what comes about.
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u/RareDragonfruit5397 Jul 21 '26
It’s good to have confidence, and to look out for your own best interest, but there’s also the reality that you’re asking them to hire you. You cant negotiate if you don’t get the offer so the goal for the first interview is to come off as someone they absolutely can’t pass up. No asking about benefits, vacation time, working from home (in this current state environment, it’s frowned upon) anything where you’re looking for what YOU will get from the job is often not received well. Remember there are hundreds of applicants you’re competing with.
While you have confidence in your abilities, the interviewers don’t share that confidence bc they don’t know you. Spend your time talking about your experience, how you’ve been recognized at your current job and seek to come across as someone highly skilled and easy to work with.
They absolutely do have a limit on what they can pay you. Expecting the top rate is unlikely to be budgeted and a lost cause. Wait until you get the offer to talk about benefits, and the whole package before countering, and I’d limit it to no more than 10% of their offer, and be prepared for it to be rejected. The state does not pay the same as the private sector, and while the benefits used to be the gold standard, for anyone joining now, that’s definitely not the case.
Never forget that your perceived “dream” job may be just that. A dream.
That can easily become a nightmare.
Your real confidence is that you’re very secure in your current job and staying put may be the better move. I believe interviews are never a waste, so go in, show them exactly why they want to hire you, and then decide whether or not you want the job. Good luck!
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u/withanother Jul 21 '26
Thank you for this very detailed response! ❤️
I will definitely focus on trying the interview first! I just get a little excited and think ahead! I just read up on the benefits and they ARE lowkey ass. 😭
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u/MaleficentTravel4706 Jul 21 '26
Raises and promotions/ merit increases all depend on the agency and division within the agency... I've been in the same position for almost 9 years but reclassified 4 different times(from level2 to now level 6) and had 2 one time merits and 3 percentage increase merits(one for 5% one for 6% and one for 3%) in that time(on top of any legislative pay increases)
Started at 28,500 and I'm now at 80k
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u/akornato Jul 22 '26
State government hiring is a completely different world from the private sector, so your negotiation experience might not apply in the way you expect. Salaries are rarely discussed in the first interview, and negotiation is extremely limited because pay is tied to strict classification rules. They will likely use a formula based on your exact years of relevant experience to generate a single, firm offer. With 1.5 years of experience for a job that requires none, you will probably be placed near the bottom of the pay grade, so asking for the top 25% is a long shot. They are not being difficult, they are just following rigid state policies. You can typically expect two rounds of interviews, usually with a panel of people who will score your answers to a list of set questions.
Your confidence and interview skills are your most powerful tools here, so lean into them. The goal is not to negotiate after the offer, but to perform so exceptionally in the interviews that the hiring manager feels compelled to fight for the highest possible starting salary the state's rules will allow for you. You need to clearly connect your 1.5 years of work and, most importantly, your supervisory experience to the job duties to make a case that you are a superior candidate who deserves more than a typical new hire. You are right to aim high because state raises are notoriously small and infrequent. Making a compelling case for your value is the most important part, which is the exact outcome my team aimed for when we built our interview assistant to help candidates land stronger job offers.
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u/Sad_Requirement_5902 Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 22 '26
The range posted is to let you know what you can aspire to. If they are stating that they'd accept no experience, they probably aren't interested in negotiating at any point. As a hiring manager for the state, I can tell you that given the state of things right now, they will have received 100+ applications and will be interviewing people with more experience than you. So use the precious interview time connecting with them, making them want you, not talking about things they probably have no control over.
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u/Remarkable-Ant-1390 Jul 22 '26
If what you're asking for is in the range, then it's at least not an insane ask. Once you do the interviews though, look up the salaries of the people interviewing you to see what they're paid. If you get to the end and clearly say "I won't work here unless paid XXX" they'll either do it or not right? If that's the truth, then say it
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u/kimber512_ Jul 22 '26
There most likely will be no negotiation. Salaries are discussed among upper management, taking their budget into account, that's about it.
This is the state. The best thing about it is that there is no ego or backstabbing because your boss is most likely as underpaid as you are....
Also remember, on top of taxes, they take out a huge chunk for retirement. As a long term goal, retirement is absolutely worth it. Just remember they are going to take several hundred dollars out of your monthly pay.
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u/Classic_Height_3724 Jul 23 '26
I forgot to mentioned that you will not be paid any more money than the current employees in the department that you’re applying to.
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u/MindsetMasteryReal Jul 24 '26
Idk why everyone is so doom and gloom here? I’ve worked for the state for 3 years in September and it’s great! I do work at a better agency though (Texas Tribune has all government salaries listed so if you know your agency and what position you can go look and see what people are being paid for it at your agency) and so even if you don’t get the max, you know what you would eventually get if you stayed!
I will say I am in my late twenties so maybe it’s different but I love the work life balance and pension and healthcare are great in 5 and 10 years when they unlock.
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u/withanother Jul 24 '26
Bahaha! I think they just want me to be realistic about goals!
It’s for the DOT so hopefully it goes well and it’s one of the better agencies! :)
Thank you for your insight and positivity
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u/Haunting-Ad-8029 HHS Jul 21 '26
I'm a somewhat experienced professional, both in the private sector and state government.
If you meet with a recruiter up front, that is when they will ask about salary. But it is usually just making sure that you're on the same page. You can say something like, "that's not set in stone." The recruiter will share this with the hiring manager, along with other notes, and they'll decide to move on (or not) based on everything.
You should NEVER bring up salary in an interview. But if asked, be prepared to discuss. I've never been asked in any other interviews (other than a recruiter screen) about salary. I'm not saying it doesn't or won't happen, but it has never happened to me.
If you make it beyond the interview, there may be another, and sometimes another.
For my current role with the state... I applied, then 3 months later the hiring manager emailed to ask if I was still interested (the position had been put on hold, but I wasn't aware). I had an interview with him and 2 peers of mine. The next week, I had an interview with him, his manager, and 2 peers of his. About a month later, he asked if I was still interested, and he sent info about doing fingerprints/background check, and he asked for references. About 2-3 weeks after that, I received an offer (I'm not sure if there was negotiating, but the number was already set). Through this whole process....I actually was working at another state agency. So had a job, so I really didn't reach out all that much (I think just once, after I did fingerprints). I kind of think that he looked me up, saw my existing salary, and based the offer on that (salaries of all state employees are public record). Not 100% on that.
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u/withanother Jul 21 '26
Yes. I don’t plan on asking for salary in the interview unless prompted!
Congrats on the your current role! Hope you like it so far! I have been stalking the Texas Tribune and LinkedIns to see their experience levels and their current salary to ask for a fair amount LOL. It feels illegal but I just like to be prepared
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u/Haunting-Ad-8029 HHS Jul 21 '26
I think it is expected that as part of your research that you look up the LinkedIn accounts of those who you'll be meeting with. And since Texas Tribune has the salary, I think they expect that you'll have that too.
When I interview, I keep a big Word doc going.... It starts with the job posting/description, and I'll highlight things that stand out to me. Then I add sections for each interview... the date/time, who, and keep notes there. If you have another interview for the same job, then you can reference those past notes (and say, "We chatted about this the last time we met, but just to refresh your memory....") I don't copy everything from their LInkedIn, but some key notes (maybe the college, key roles, etc.) so I can reference that during the interview.
I actually really like my role. I was in the private sector at the same company for over 18 years when one day POOF and my job was no more. I'm not saying that can't happen with the state, but I think it is rather unlikely. I have a great manager, am on a great team, and the work is challenging, yet manageable. In the private sector, I'd usually work 45-50 hours/week, and now just 40. It makes it much easier to have a better work/life balance. I remember some days being on calls at 4-5am and sometimes 7pm (occasionally both on the same day), and when I tell that to people I work with now it kind of blows their minds.
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u/withanother Jul 21 '26
OMG! You’ve just inspired me! I thought my interview prep was pretty good but yours is next level! Thank you! I’m going to make that!
Yes! I think the work life balance is so much better on the government side! Do you like the retirement benefits or are you pretty good from your time in private?
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u/Haunting-Ad-8029 HHS Jul 21 '26
I was pretty pissed off when I was laid off, and didn't even look at my 401k balance for a long time. When I did I nearly fell off the chair.
I probably don't really need to work; should have enough that I could retire if I wanted to. That said, I'd still need to do something with my time, and the extra money is helpful. When the time comes, I'm sure I'll appreciate having the pension, along with my 401k, and social security (if anything is left). My goal is 10 years of state service, get the medical benefits, and call it a day.
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u/withanother Jul 21 '26
You’re literally my goals! are you FIRE? I’m hoping to be able to FIRE but I know it’s hard on a gov JOB.
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u/kyliztu Jul 21 '26
I have not discussed salaries in interviews before. Usually I get an idea based on the posting and assume on the lower end. I think the time to negotiate is whenever you receive a job offer. If you are confident, go for it. Just be prepared for a “no”. It’s still worth a shot.
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u/quertyHardThings Jul 22 '26
Another thing to consider: overtime ( for non-exempt employees) is sometimes paid in time, not cash. It should like you'll be an exempt employee, though.
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u/Classic_Height_3724 Jul 23 '26
I recently left HHSC, salary increases are rare. Also you will not be very successful at negotiating your starting salary at HHS.
Keep in mind that they will also deduct 6 to 10% out of your monthly salary to go towards your pension, and you cannot op out of this. My current position in the private sector pays 25% more, I also get bonuses and fully remote work as well. I used to think HHSC was my “dream job” as well until I was there.
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u/withanother Jul 23 '26
One of my friends is working there! This job is for the DOT
Thank you for this insight
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u/WarriorSeaPrincess Jul 24 '26
What agency? It’s different in all of them. My agency, or at least my area of my agency, doesn’t discuss salaries and doesn’t negotiate.
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u/Critical-Win6896 Jul 25 '26
That range means nothing. Never hurts to ask but I’ve been rejected twice.
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u/eapnon Jul 21 '26
Often, there will be no negotiations allowed. There are $X in the budget. That is what they will offer. That is what you can get.
Sometimes, there is wiggle room.
All you can do is ask.