How should I answer the salary question in a job interview?

The strongest strategy is to anchor on market data: "Based on verified salary reports for this role in the Copenhagen area, the median is around X and the 75th percentile is around Y. Given my experience, I am looking for something in that range." This uses third-party data, avoids revealing your current salary, and positions you at the right level.

What if they ask what I currently earn?

In Denmark you are not obliged to reveal your current salary. You can politely redirect: "I'd prefer to focus on the market rate for this role. What range have you budgeted?" Most Danish employers accept this approach. If pressed, provide market benchmarks rather than your personal figure.

Should I state the high end of the market or the median?

Target the 75th percentile if your experience and performance support it. The median should be your floor, not your target. Research shows that people who anchor first - and anchor high with market data to back it up - consistently negotiate better outcomes than those who wait.

Guide

How to Answer the Salary Question in a Job Interview 2026

Last updated: 20-05-2026

You are sitting in a job interview. It has gone well so far. Then comes the question you have been dreading: "What are your salary expectations?" You guess a number. Maybe too low. Maybe evasive. Either way, you leave with a nagging feeling that you just left 30,000 kr. a year on the table. This guide gives you a concrete answer.

3 Things You Must Do BEFORE the Interview

1. Find Your Real Market Range

Find your median (50th percentile), your 75th percentile (aim for this), and your floor (absolute minimum). Example: software developer in Greater Copenhagen - median 56,925 kr./month, 75th percentile 66,144 kr.

2. Decide Your Anchor

The first number mentioned in a negotiation significantly affects the final outcome. Set your anchor in the upper part of your range. For the software developer above: 64,000-67,000 kr.

3. Practise Out Loud

Write your sentence down and say it out loud 5-10 times. It sounds silly, but it works.

4 Answer Formulas for the Interview

Formula 1: The Range-Based Answer (Recommended)

"Based on market data for [role] in [region] with my experience, the level is 60,000-68,000 kr. per month including pension. I am aiming for the upper half of that range."

Formula 2: The Data-Backed Answer

"According to LønRadar, the median salary for [role] in [region] is 56,925 kr./month, and the 75th percentile is 66,144 kr. With my experience in [specific skill], I am aiming to land in the top quarter."

Formula 3: The Deflection Answer

"I would like to hear your budget for the position first. I want to make sure we are in the same ballpark before we talk specific numbers."

Current Salary Figures for IT Roles (2026)

Role	25th pct.	Median	75th pct.
Software Developer	47,250 kr.	54,000 kr.	63,250 kr.
Frontend Developer	40,950 kr.	48,454 kr.	57,533 kr.
Backend Developer	44,000 kr.	50,760 kr.	61,210 kr.
DevOps Engineer	49,419 kr.	61,879 kr.	69,350 kr.
Tech Lead	62,440 kr.	71,825 kr.	77,760 kr.

Source: LønRadar verified data, May 2026. Figures include gross salary and employer pension.

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