Not necessarily. Hiring is expensive and low balling candidates means they are more likely to consider other options. Recruiters often lead with pay, most can

Not necessarily. Hiring is expensive and low balling candidates means they are more likely to consider other options. Recruiters often lead with pay, most candidates are going to be bombarded with linked in messages showing their "market value". If those recruiters hook one of your low-balled employees, your recruitment costs have doubled, your projects have lost a productive team member, and the next person might ask for even more money. My I low-balled myself on my first real job. The hiring manager flat out told me that the roll started at $15k+, and offered me $20k more than I asked for, which happened to be exactly the same salary offered to other members of my cohort.