To talk about salary in a job interview with confidence, find out what the job usually pays before you go, name a narrow range, and ask about the fixed part separately. According to Cloz data on 26 October 2026, the typical monthly pay for a shop sales assistant in Tashkent is 4.72 million so'm (based on 769 vacancies), and for an accountant it is 6.5 million so'm (based on 331 vacancies).
Below: what number to say, how to answer a low offer, and how to get it in writing, with ready phrases for each case.
Find out what the job pays before the interview
Without a number, "What salary do you expect?" will catch you off guard. Spend 10 minutes checking the market:
- Search Cloz for vacancies in your role and choose your city.
- Open 10–15 posts that show a salary. Every vacancy page has a "typical pay" block for that role.
- Write down the middle figure, not the lowest or the highest.
- With no experience, aim for the lower part of the range; with several years, the upper part.
Typical monthly pay for five roles in Tashkent on 26 October 2026:
Role | Typical pay | Middle half of vacancies | Vacancies counted |
Shop sales assistant | 4.72 million so'm | 3.8–6 million so'm | 769 |
Call center operator | 5 million so'm | 4–7.1 million so'm | 833 |
Cook | 5 million so'm | 4–6.5 million so'm | 200 |
Driver | 5.5 million so'm | 4.5–7 million so'm | 354 |
Accountant | 6.5 million so'm | 4.4–10 million so'm | 331 |
"Middle half" means that half of the vacancies pay within this range. To judge your own level, read how to know your market value.
How to answer "What salary do you expect?"
Give a narrow range, not a single number: for example, "5 to 6 million so'm". Make the lower number a little higher than the least you would accept, because employers usually remember the lower number. After the number, add one reason: your experience, a skill, or the usual market pay.
Do not say "I don't mind" or "whatever you decide". It sounds as if you will accept any amount.
Ready phrases:
- If you have experience: "I have worked in this role for three years, and I expect around 6 to 7 million so'm. Could you also tell me if this amount is after tax or before tax?"
- If you have no experience: "This is my first job, and I am ready to learn. Job posts for this role usually pay 4 to 5 million so'm, and that range works for me."
- If you want the employer to name a number first: "I am happy to give a number, but first I would like to understand all the duties. What budget do you have for this role?"
- If an application form asks for "expected salary": write a clear range, such as "5,000,000 – 6,000,000 so'm", not "negotiable".
If you are looking for your first job, see part-time jobs for students in Tashkent.
Fixed pay, bonus, percent: what to ask about
A wide range in a job post, like "4–10 million so'm", often has two parts. Fixed pay is the amount you get every month for sure. A bonus, KPI or percent depends on your results. For example, one driver vacancy from 25 October says "guaranteed from 4 million so'm + KPI", and that the KPI terms are "discussed at the interview".
For cases like this, prepare your questions in advance:
What is the fixed pay, and is it paid even if the target is not met?
What is the bonus or percent based on, and how much does an average employee really get?
Is the amount after tax (what you take home) or before tax?
When is salary paid: once a month, or twice with an advance? On which day?
Is it paid in cash or to a bank card?
How long is the probation period, and what is the pay during it?
Are training days paid?
How are extra hours and work on days off paid?
Are there fines, and when is money taken from your salary?
Write the answers down. Side by side, you will see which offer is really better. If you are applying for a call center role, our call center operator guide explains how pay and interviews work there.
What to say if the offer is too low
Do not say "yes" or "no" straight away. Thank the employer, repeat your number with a reason, and suggest a middle point. Many employers can move a little, but only if you ask.
Ready phrases:
- "Thank you for the offer. The typical pay for this role is about 5 million so'm. Could we agree on 4.5 million?"
- "If you cannot raise it now, can we agree to review my salary after the probation period? What results would you need to see from me?"
- "Could I have until tomorrow to think about it?"
If the amount does not work for you at all, it is fine to say no politely: "Thank you, but this amount is too low for me. If another role opens, I would be glad to hear from you."
Things worth negotiating besides money: schedule, lunch, transport
Sometimes the pay for a role cannot change. Then negotiate other terms that save you money or time every month. For example, one sales assistant vacancy from 25 October offers meals and transport paid by the company, and one call center vacancy offers free lunch.
Things you can ask for:
- a 5/2 schedule instead of 6/1 (five or six working days a week), or better working hours;
- lunch and transport paid by the company;
- training or paid courses;
- an official employment contract;
- a date for a salary review, for example after 3 or 6 months.
Ready phrase: "I understand the salary. Does the company pay for lunch and transport? If not, could this be added?"
Get the agreed pay in writing
Before you start, ask for an employment contract or a written offer that shows the fixed pay, the bonus terms, the probation period and its pay, and the payment date.
If there is no document yet, send a short message after the interview:
"Thank you for today's meeting. I would like to check that I understood correctly: fixed pay of 5 million so'm after tax, a one-month probation period with 4 million so'm, paid to my card on the 10th of each month. Is that right?"
The employer's reply stays with you as a written confirmation.
Stay safe. An employer pays you; you never pay the employer. If someone asks you to pay in advance for training, a uniform or "processing documents", or asks for your card details or an SMS code, stop. See the full list of warning signs in fake job offers on Telegram.
FAQ
Can I bring up salary first in a job interview?
Yes, after you have talked about the duties and the schedule. Asking only about money at the start can look as if the job does not interest you. At the end, it is a normal question.
Can I just say the salary is "negotiable"?
This answer invites the employer to offer the lowest amount. It is better to check the typical pay and give a clear range. If you want to hear the employer's number first, ask: "What budget do you have for this role?"
Can I negotiate salary with no experience?
Yes. With no experience, it makes sense to name a number near the lower end of the market range, but you should still name one. Say that you are ready to learn, and ask for a salary review after the probation period.
Is pay lower during the probation period?
Some employers pay less during probation, some do not. Ask how long it lasts and exactly what it pays, and write it down.
Open 10 vacancies in your role today and write down the typical pay: all vacancies are on one page.
How the data was collected
Source: Cloz, a website that collects vacancies from Telegram channels and employers. The figures were taken on 26 October 2026.
Typical pay comes from the "typical pay" block on Cloz vacancy pages: it is the median and the middle half (25th–75th percentile) of monthly salaries in vacancies for that role in Tashkent that state a salary. The number of vacancies counted for each role is shown in the table, 2,487 in total. Ranges are rounded to 0.1 million so'm. The examples from job posts (KPI, lunch, transport) come from vacancies open on Cloz on 25 October.
