I think your spot on with the pay range for what is "visible", but that isn't the real range. Your 2nd question has all the answers you need. * Specialize in

I think your spot on with the pay range for what is "visible", but that isn't the real range. Your 2nd question has all the answers you need. * Specialize in something, or a few closely related things. Remember that %25 of a job is the actual coding, the rest is understanding the domain your in. It is fairly easy to master something like Magento, but it will take you longer to master ecom as a whole. If you have done a few deep interrogations with payment providers, shipping (picking and packing as well as the actual shippers like ups/usps/fed ex) and most importantly accounting are the tangible skills that will let you move out side the advertised range. * once your IN a company its hard to break out of meager cost of living increases. If you have maxed out what they are willing to give you then you need to get a new job, and that will let you push higher. If your looking and you don't NEED the job you have a strong negotiating position. Be clear, from the beginning that your making XXX dollars and what you will need from the start. I know plenty of engineers who make more than your max, but they know the domain as well as the engineering and can speak to both as they have a high level of understanding.