This question arrives early because it saves the employer money. Whoever names a number first sets the anchor, and recruiters ask precisely so that the anchor is yours, not theirs.
The best answer redirects without stonewalling: “I’d like to learn more about the role before talking numbers. Can you share the range you’ve budgeted for the position?” Most recruiters will tell you. Many states now require them to post or disclose ranges anyway, so you are asking for something they can give.
If they insist, give a researched range, not a single number, and anchor to the market rather than your history: “Based on market data for this role in this region, I’m targeting the $95,000 to $110,000 range depending on the full package.” A range keeps the conversation alive while the bottom of your range does the anchoring work, so set that bottom at or above the market median.
What you should never do is quote your current salary as your expectation. Your current pay reflects your last negotiation, not your market value, and if you are underpaid it just imports the problem into your next job.
The whole answer takes thirty seconds when you have done the research. Run your title, state, and experience through our free What Am I Worth? tool before the call, and you will have a defensible range ready instead of improvising one under pressure.
Reviewed by Michael Dennis Graham
Michael Dennis Graham is the founder of Grahall, LLC, an executive compensation consulting firm, and the author of numerous books on compensation and total rewards strategy. He has advised boards and management teams on pay design and has served as an expert on compensation matters. Articles on WePayFairly are prepared by our editorial team and reviewed for accuracy and methodology.
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