> just assume the midpoint is the starting offer This is reasonable and is what I thought as well. But I worked for a firm where senior manager band was $120-

> just assume the midpoint is the starting offer This is reasonable and is what I thought as well. But I worked for a firm where senior manager band was $120-350k. Most senior managers came in at $120-150 and would climb through years with the firm. If a new hire at the senior manager rate asked for $225-250 as a midpoint it would kill their negotiation and likely cost them their offer.