There is a job offer I have which is significantly lower than market rate to my understanding, and the rest of it is good. I am looking to turn this offer down as I'm in the process with other companies which could be better.

How can I best word my declining of this lowball offer while keeping the door open in the future? (In this scenario they have said this is the maximum of the salary band they have available, as we could only determine seniority as we got through the interview process.)

I note that I don't believe telling them the truth would be a good option as admitting the unspoken quiet truth of "money/your compensation is too low compared to other options in the market" could potentially "close the door" so to speak (i.e., between being underpaid in that position and unemployed I'd happily picking being underpaid there, if that situation ever arose, however I am currently employed, thankfully).

There is a job offer I have which is significantly lower than market rate to my understanding, and the rest of it is good. I am looking to turn this offer down as I'm in the process with other companies which could be better.

How can I best word my declining of this lowball offer while keeping the door open in the future? (In this scenario they have said this is the maximum of the salary band they have available, as we could only determine seniority as we got through the interview process.)

I note that I don't believe telling them the truth would be a good option as admitting the unspoken quiet truth of "money/your compensation is too low compared to other options in the market" could potentially "close the door" so to speak (i.e., between being underpaid in that position and unemployed I'd happily picking being underpaid there, if that situation ever arose, however I am currently employed, thankfully).

My specific situation is I suspect they wanted to confirm salary expectations before releasing a written offer. I am currently employed.

However I was looking to make the question general to how to handle this situation as this is a decent company to work for outside of compensation that is below market and close enough to my current I don't think I'd want to make the jump, but would like to keep the door open.

As the title describes. There is a job offer I have which is significantly lower than market rate to my understanding, the rest of it is good. I am looking to turn this offer down as I'm in the process with other companies which could be better.

How can I best word my declining of this low ball offer while keeping the door open in the future? (In this scenario they have said this is the maximum of the salary band they have available, as we could only determine seniority as we got through the interview process)

I note that I don't believe telling them the truth would be a good option as admitting the unspoken quiet truth of "money/your compensation is too low compared to other options in the market" could potentially "close the door" so to speak. (i.e. between being under paid in that position and unemployed I'd happily picking being under paid there, if that situation ever arose, however I am currently employed thaknfully).

There is a job offer I have which is significantly lower than market rate to my understanding, and the rest of it is good. I am looking to turn this offer down as I'm in the process with other companies which could be better.

How can I best word my declining of this lowball offer while keeping the door open in the future? (In this scenario they have said this is the maximum of the salary band they have available, as we could only determine seniority as we got through the interview process.)

I note that I don't believe telling them the truth would be a good option as admitting the unspoken quiet truth of "money/your compensation is too low compared to other options in the market" could potentially "close the door" so to speak (i.e., between being underpaid in that position and unemployed I'd happily picking being underpaid there, if that situation ever arose, however I am currently employed, thankfully).

As the title describes. There is a job offer I have which is significantly lower than market rate to my understanding, the rest of it is good. I am looking to turn this offer down as I'm in the process with other companies which could be better.

How can I best word my declining of this low ball offer while keeping the door open in the future? (In this scenario they have said this is the maximum of the salary band they have available, as we could only determine seniority as we got through the interview process)

I note that I don't believe telling them the truth would be a good option as admitting the unspoken quiet truth of "money/your compensation is too low compared to other options in the market" could potentially "close the door" so to speak. (i.e. between being under paid in that position and unemployed I'd happily picking being under paid there, if that situation ever arose).

As the title describes. There is a job offer I have which is significantly lower than market rate to my understanding, the rest of it is good. I am looking to turn this offer down as I'm in the process with other companies which could be better.

How can I best word my declining of this low ball offer while keeping the door open in the future? (In this scenario they have said this is the maximum of the salary band they have available, as we could only determine seniority as we got through the interview process)

I note that I don't believe telling them the truth would be a good option as admitting the unspoken quiet truth of "money/your compensation is too low compared to other options in the market" could potentially "close the door" so to speak. (i.e. between being under paid in that position and unemployed I'd happily picking being under paid there, if that situation ever arose, however I am currently employed thaknfully).