What you'll need to do is ask for salary negotion when you receive your tentative offer and you will be basing that on superior qualifications. Do you possess special skills not readily available in the market?Example job offer negotiation. Many people don't know this, but YES—you can negotiate your federal salary and get a higher step before getting hired. But you may be able to negotiate a salary above the low end of the range. Start with your Leave and Earnings Statement (LES). Matching your current salary is the easiest way to get the amount you want. If you currently make less, that's a lot tougher. The RIGHT WAY to negotiate your post-military salary in 2021! We explain how to structure a salary negotiation email and how to present the best case for a pay rise.