This is what I said recently and it worked spectacularly well. (Increased my salary by 25%.) I said: "I would prefer that you tell me what the position pays an

This is what I said recently and it worked spectacularly well. (Increased my salary by 25%.) I said: "I would prefer that you tell me what the position pays and let me decide based on that. If I suggest a number and you feel inclined to match it, the I would have placed a target on my back, taking a salary the company was not comfortable with." What ends up happening is the company spooks itself into paying you more than they would have--to avoid insulting you and having you walk. It works.