Salary History Example

Why is it important to know
what a salary history example looks like?

From time to time, you will encounter a prospective employer that requests your salary history. Knowing the format of a salary history makes it easier to create your own.

Whether or not employers should or should not request this kind of information is not going to be the subject of discussion at this time. That is an entirely different situation. The assumption here is that you are going to provide a salary history to the employer and that you want to format it properly.

First, know that there is no one "perfect" salary history example. The format can vary and it isn't a problem. The main issue is ensuring that all of the appropriate information is provided in a clear and concise way.

Next, be sure to use a separate sheet of paper for the salary history. Do not include this information in your resume or in your cover letter.

Lastly, detail your work experience exactly as you do on the resume (in the same reverse chronological order) so that everything matches up neatly.

Here is a sample salary history for you to read through.

SALARY HISTORY

Lauren C. Smith
30 Strawberry Lane
Reno, NV 89512

Loan Officer
Prime Home Mortgage
5345 Desert Sun Street
Reno, NV 89503
February 2006 - Present
Salary Range: $35,000 - $42,000

Property Manager
Land Management Co.
12906 Lincoln Falls Drive
Reno, NV 89521
October 2004 - February 2006
Salary Range: $32,000 - $37,000

Assistant Property Manager
L&H Property Management, LLC
3200 Hidden Valley Highway, Suite 225
Carson City, NV 89703
June 2003 – September 2004
Salary Range: $28,000 - $30,000

This is just one salary history example. The information can be altered somewhat and the format can be adjusted depending upon your situation. In short, it's flexible.

Again, whether or not employers should even request this kind of information is an entirely different situation. If you feel that your chances of making a favorable impression are enhanced by providing this information, then it's probably in your best interest to provide it to the prospective employer.

The main reason you might not want to include it is if you feel it limits your ability to garner a better salary in the new position. One way to limit that liability is to provide an "expected salary range" for the new position at the bottom of the salary history sheet to let the prospective employer know what your expectations are.

There are no hard and fast rules. Unfortunately. Just make the choice that seems to work best for you.

If this salary history example has been helpful, you may also want to read this article about the Salary History

You may also be interested in learning more about the Employee Selection Process