I always give them the highest reasonable number I can come up with. For one thing, whatever you give them is the floor - if you say "I expect $140k" and then

I always give them the highest reasonable number I can come up with. For one thing, whatever you give them is the floor - if you say "I expect $140k" and then counter a $140k offer you're likely to piss them off. I don't think giving them a low number is likely to actually generate more offers. Think of yourself as a Veblen Good - if the price is too low companies wonder about the quality and actually want you less. That's my theory, anyway. It's hard to know if I've ever lost an offer by going to high, but I've never had any trouble getting offers, so I doubt it. I have had companies come back and say something like "We can't offer what you were expecting, but we do have a great benefits package we think will compensate." It doesn't, but it allows you to take the offer without losing face. It has been a few years since I looked for a job, so it's possible things have changed. That's what I'd still do, though.