When people focus on what's most important in a job, compensation usually ranks near the top. Salary often outweighs other factors, like job security, or doing work that aligns with your skills and passions. 

And yet many people feel uncomfortable talking about money. In a 2018 survey, 64% of people polled said they rarely ever or never negotiate their salary. Reluctance to negotiate is especially prevalent if someone is staying in their present position, according to 2021 data compiled by a US-based business analytics firm. However, most managers and companies are open to salary negotiations. The survey found that 89% of organizations said they would consider salary negotiations for some or all positions after extending a job offer.

The average annual pay for an American worker across all occupations was$56,310 in May 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. People working in computer-related occupations earned$96,770. 

If you're entering or working in this high-demand field and you're not negotiating for a higher computer science salary, you're probably leaving money on the table.

Continue reading to learn more about negotiating your salary in computer science, information technology, and cybersecurity careers. You'll also learn about what you should expect to be making