[Survey on IT Engineer Salary Negotiations] Approximately 90% of those with negotiation experience achieved salary increases. Meanwhile, about 30% of those without experience gave up on negotiations due to 'fear of negative impression.'

Kikkake Creation Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Gaoto Kawashima) announced the results of a survey on salary negotiations among IT engineers, conducted targeting 393 IT engineers with job change experience.

01｜Over 70% of IT engineers with job change experience have negotiated salary, with 90.8% of those who negotiated achieving a salary increase.

02｜The most common reason for not negotiating salary was 'anxiety about creating a negative impression' at 30.9%, with 'not knowing how to initiate' and 'not knowing market value' also ranking high.

03｜82.4% of IT engineers hope to negotiate salary in future job changes, but more than half are 'anxious about negotiating themselves.'

Click here for the survey column: https://kikkakeagent.co.jp/column/report/8996

Survey Overview

Survey Name: Survey on IT Engineer Salary Negotiations

Survey Method: An internet survey planned by IDEATECH's research marketing 'Risapy®'.

Survey Period: February 24, 2026 – February 27, 2026

Valid Responses: 393 IT engineers with job change experience

*Composition ratios are rounded to two decimal places, so the total may not always be 100.

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74.5% of IT engineers with job change experience have negotiated salary during job changes, with over 30% having done so in 'all job changes.'

When asked 'Q1. Have you ever negotiated salary with a prospective employer during your previous job search activities?' (n=393), 32.8% responded 'Yes, in all job changes,' and 41.7% responded 'Yes, in some job changes.'

・Done in all job changes: 32.8%

・Done in some job changes: 41.7%

・Never done: 24.7%

・Don't know / Cannot answer: 0.8%

Among engineers who did not negotiate salary, 'anxiety about creating a negative impression' was the most common reason at 30.9%, with 'not knowing how to initiate negotiations' and 'not knowing market value' also ranking high.

When asked 'Q2. For those who answered 'Never done' in Q1, please tell us why you did not negotiate salary during your job change. (Multiple answers)' (n=97), 30.9% responded 'Because I was anxious about creating a negative impression,' 26.8% responded 'Because I didn't know how to initiate or time salary negotiations,' and 24.7% responded 'Because I didn't know my market value and couldn't propose a reasonable amount.'

・Because I was anxious about creating a negative impression: 30.9%

・Because I didn't know how to initiate or time salary negotiations: 26.8%

・Because I didn't know my market value and couldn't propose a reasonable amount: 24.7%

・Because I was afraid the offer would be rescinded: 20.6%

・Because the offered salary felt reasonable: 16.5%

・Because I felt awkward about negotiating: 14.4%

・Because I thought it wouldn't work even if I negotiated: 11.3%

・Because I prioritized other conditions (work style, job content, etc.) over salary: 10.3%

・Other: 4.1%

・No particular reason: 9.3%

・Don't know / Cannot answer: 2.1%

90.8% of those with salary negotiation experience achieved a salary increase, with 34.5% reaching their 'desired salary.'

When asked 'Q3. For those who answered 'Done in all job changes' or 'Done in some job changes' in Q1, please tell us the result of your salary negotiation.' (n=293), 34.5% responded 'Achieved desired salary,' and 56.3% responded 'Did not reach desired amount but achieved a certain salary increase.'

・Achieved desired salary: 34.5%

・Did not reach desired amount but achieved a certain salary increase: 56.3%

・Salary remained unchanged: 7.8%

・Salary decreased: 0.7%

・Don't know / Cannot answer: 0.7%

The most common success factor in salary negotiation was 'being able to concretely communicate skills and achievements' at 59.4%, with 'researching market rates and negotiating with evidence' also exceeding 40%.

When asked 'Q4. For those who answered 'Achieved desired salary' or 'Did not reach desired amount but achieved a certain salary increase' in Q3, what do you think were the factors for successful salary negotiation? (Multiple answers)' (n=266), 59.4% responded 'Because I was able to concretely communicate my skills and achievements,' and 43.2% responded 'Because I researched the industry's salary market value in advance and was able to negotiate with evidence.'