When I say negotiating ability I also mean to include multiple offers. Which in my experience is the single biggest factor in determining pay for most software

When I say negotiating ability I also mean to include multiple offers. Which in my experience is the single biggest factor in determining pay for most software engineers. I agree more specialized and very senior rolls are different, but most people are going into much more generic roles. Even then bad negotiating skills can swamp out everything you else if you throw out a low number to someone willing to take advantage of it. All said we agree that realistic pay bands will help here.