State salary history bans restrict employers from asking your past pay in more than twenty states. Answering salary expectation questions first still exposes candidates to anchoring bias.
Negotiation research demonstrates that the first stated number sets the baseline anchor for subsequent offers. Naming a salary figure early risks setting your compensation below the employer target budget.
Politely deflecting initial salary questions allows employers to present their approved pay range first. Asking for the budgeted compensation range preserves your negotiating position.
Reframing early pay questions keeps your compensation tied to current market value.
What phrase do you use when asked for your target salary first?
(For educational purposes only. Not financial advice.)
