Can You Negotiate Salary with a Temp Agency? You may be able to negotiate your wage with a temp agency in some cases. The agency works for a client company, and therefore makes no hiring or salary choices. Their client usually has a salary range based on experience or a fixed pay rate for everyone. Your recruiter, however, can often advocate for you on your pay rate, although you may need to have the abilities and/or job experience to back up your request. The fee charged by the recruiter is calculated based on your pay rate—a higher pay rate equals a greater commission, so they want to get you the best pay possible. Before negotiating, conduct some research or speak with recruiters to determine the market pay for your skills. Harder-to-fill roles, such as third shift positions, may also offer a higher pay rate, and some companies may have opportunities to earn a raise based on performance. In the end, the client company decides how much they are willing to pay you. However, it never hurts to ask your recruiter, who will also be able to provide you with information on typical pay rates for similar roles. If they can accommodate your request, great! If not, you can always accept the offer and try to negotiate a higher wage with the employer after you're hired permanently. After demonstrating that you are a dependable employee who brings value to your team, you will be in a stronger position to negotiate a raise.