Salary is the least discussed and most consequential part of a Nigerian job search. People accept offers far below market because they have no reference point and are afraid that asking will cost them the role.
The employer type matters more than the title
Two people can hold the same job title and earn three times apart depending on who signs the cheque. Broadly, the ranking runs multinational contractors first, then oil and gas and telecoms clients, then large indigenous contractors, then consultancies, then government agencies.
- Multinational contractors pay the most and demand the most, often with site postings far from home.
- Consultancy pays less at entry but exposes you to a wider range of projects, which compounds over a career.
- Public sector pays least in cash but is stable and often comes with allowances that do not appear on the payslip.
How to use a range in a negotiation
- Decide your walk-away number before the conversation and write it down.
- When asked, give a range that starts slightly above your real minimum.
- If the offer comes in below, ask what flexibility exists rather than rejecting outright.
- Get the final offer in writing before resigning from anything.
The worst outcome of asking is that they say no and you accept the original figure. That is genuinely the worst case. Almost nobody has an offer withdrawn for politely asking.