What to Say When the Interviewer Asks How Much You Make

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How much one makes is irrelevant and only gives leverage to the employer to low ball you. One should tell the employer what is in their best interest just as they tell you what is in their best interest. In an unfair world it is not always wise to deal fairly. How are you going to lose a job that you do not have, and how do you suspect that they can find out short of breaking the law? The job will not tell you that they lay off every six months or that the CEO makes 2 Million a year. They will not tell you that you will work with social retards, racist, and/or sexist. They will not tell you how many lawsuits they have agaist them.
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Donald of ID 9:28AM March 23, 2013

When the hiring manager asked (in a phone interview) what I currently make, I answered truthfully. Afterwards, upon reflection, I was tempted to send an email stating that just because my current jobs pays the minimum wage, keep in mind that the business I created, the one that dominated your interview, generated three times the salary you offered. The money is important, but not as importanat as the satisfaction I feel being an asset to the company and the clients. My self-esteem is not dependent on what I can buy.

Robin Virgin of FL 6:33AM February 01, 2013

You said:
"...I am asking so that I have an idea of whether this candidate is in our budget range for the position and, if not, how much we would have to stretch to afford him/her and whether it seems like a stretch worth making..."
I ask: Isn't it really YOUR responsiblitiy to TELL the candidate what this position pays? Does it really matter what he/she wants? You have a cap on what you can spend/offer so why not toss a "bone" to the candidate and let them know YOU'RE not in a versus role?
I'm sincerely NOT trying to be confrontational here (or anywhere). But you have ALL the leverage: job, money, security, mortgage, kids braces and schools, etc in your hands. Why make it a guessing game?
This concerns me a great deal and I can't seem to get a straight answer from anyone. I've written Ann Landers, Salary.com, Ladders, et al and no one responds. Maybe today. Maybe not!

donallover of NV 8:45PM March 20, 2011

I recently interviewed for a position 4 hours from my home. I am willing to move and I THINK (!?!?!) the position pays between 40 and 60.
However, I spent nearly $300 out of my own pocket to drive, hotel, food, etc for the interview. The interview was about one hour and I was the first of several that week. And, I"m unemployed right now. This is NOT an expense I assume easily except that I need employment.
Should I have simply said BEFORE I agree to travel that I need to have some sense of the salary of this position? Would this have disqualified myself for bringing up money too soon?
What should I do if it happens again?

Mr. Gadget of CA 3:37PM March 20, 2011

If Job A historically offers $x/year based on budgets, current salaries paid in that department, manager salary, etc. then you're NOT going to pay much below or above that range.
I've worked in tech for several years and the pay has been pretty good, actually VERY good. However, I apply for positions regularly that probably DON'T pay as much. So be it. I NEED A JOB!
Why not peruse my resume and any other factors, determine whether I'm in the lower range or upper range of that salary spread and THEN TELL ME A NUMBER!
If you're thinking $45,000 but I say $58,000 I'm automatically disqualified. WHY? Would I be willing to work for less? Far less? Probably, in THIS market. But, as one interviewer did, you're likely to "tsk, tsk" and say we think you're expecting more than we think this position is worth or "that's way above what we pay!" FINE! Then just TELL ME WHAT, based on all of the above, what this position with someone with my qualificaitons IS WORTH TO YOU!
NOW, what do I do? Please, beg, grovel? "No, I'm willing to take less but I had NO IDEA WHAT THIS JOB IS WORTH TO YOU!!!!!" Sorry, you're excluded.
Did I mention salary questions make me CRAZY?
And, salary.com usually isn't much help most of the time.

donallover of NV 1:23PM March 20, 2011

1. Why is it any business of your business as my potential employer what I made before or make now? If I'm applying in a competitors field they automatically know what their competitor pays for the same job. I don't necessarily want them to know how much or how little I make. I don't tell my in-laws, why should I tell you? Just pay me what the position is worth TO YOU!
2. It REALLY doesn't matter what I want/need/require does it? The company has a range in mind and they should simply say, "we'd like to offer you this position and based on your experience, skill, etc. THIS (salary) is what we'd like to offer.
3. It is patently unfair to make me GUESS what you're willing to pay for this position. If I THINK you'll pay more then I guess wrong and automatically esclude myself from the running. I may be willing to settle for FAR less than I want but when I say that YOU instantly have all the leverage.
4. Looking at my Resume you have a MUCH better idea of what your position is worth with me working in it than I do. JUST TELL ME WHAT MY VALUE IS TO YOU SHOULD I BE THE ONE TO FILL IT. Why should the employer have all the leverage.

donallover of NV 12:28PM March 20, 2011

My problem that should be considered an asset is that I have a vast amount of skills that range from being an Outreach Worker, Case Manager, Supervisor, Housing Coordinator, Enriched Housing Coordinator and now own my on-line business(s) and author/poet/artist. What employers want to know is why I would take a job beneath my skill level and career capacity. (The reason is that I need a paying job with health benefits in a failing economy and will stay as long as I feel I am appreciated and rewarded for my contributions to that company.)

Risa of NY 11:42AM January 21, 2011

I can't help thinking about what I learned in sales training: If a customer (in this case the interviewer) is going too quickly to the cost, then you haven't sold him on the value. While it's obvious that nobody is going to cash out without looking at the receipt, if they're asking that question too early or too expectantly, that might be a sign that you haven't accurately or sufficiently presented yourself. Depending on your personality, you might even just level with them, and ask why they're so focused on the bottom line, then present a few ideas on how to reach their TOP line--with your help, of course!
Keep in mind that I'm only suggesting this as a "cutting through the BS" tactic, and this may backfire if used to stave off a genuine end-of-the-interview budget check. If you're no good at reading people, this method probably isn't for you.

Trevor O'Dell of AZ 11:08AM January 14, 2011

I too, am a bit tired of potential employers asking this question -- especially in this precarious economy. As an individual who is currently looking in a market that is supposedly willing to under-employ: when I tell a potential employer that I used to earn almost 6 figures yet I am now willing to earn considerably less so that I can discontinue this 2 year hiatus; that they will surely benefit from my extensive experience; that I will remain loyal to the company -- yada, yada, yada... I find that they simply don't want to take the chance that I will leave their employ once something more lucrative comes along.

Kim B. of NY 1:28AM January 12, 2011

I've hired a lot of people and I do ask this question only of the person to whom I ultimately offer the job, right before making the actual salary. I'd like to dispute the statement that this question is always asked so you can hire at the lowest possible salary - while I'm sure that's true in most circumstances, it's not true in my type of institution. I'm in an academic library within a large system with a scale of allowable salaries at each particular rank. The salaries are public information, and are posted - so the candidates do know what is possible - but often the range runs from something like $40,000 to $80,000 - it can be huge. I ask people their current salary for the opposite reason - so that our HR office does not try to offer a salary much lower than what the candidate is currently making - which is quite possible, because at a public institution, our salaries in the early stages of our careers are often not as high as those at private institutions. I don't want to lose a candidate because the offer was insultingly low, so I ask - and our Provost has always been able to come up with an offer that beats their salary, when in some cases, if I hadn't told him what they currently made, I am quite sure the offer would have been lower. We recently offered a position to someone who was quite junior in terms of experience, but who had been able to command a relatively good salary elsewhere. I didn't think he'd be able to beat the salary, but he did.

SR of NY 5:28PM January 11, 2011