It's never a good idea for the interviewee to bring up pay too early, but once the interviewer addresses it, it's fair game. The same goes for the benefits they offer because that is another form of compensation that should be considered. For example, if your last employer had a great benefits package with zero out-of-pocket expenses for you, and the position you are interviewing for offers no health benefits; that means you could be paying that premium out of pocket on the health exchange. For some, that could be upwards of 1500 a month. So, effectively, you could be earning far less in your next position than you did in your last one.

Good questions to ask when quantifying your number are how frequently pay increases occur and how the pay structure works. You can also ask what other health benefits or retirement packages, as well as any incentives, bonuses, or other perks they might offer. Feel free to share what your previous positions offered and see what they come back with.