This question can come up anywhere in the interview but more commonly comes towards the end. This question gauges your expectations and self-awareness of how the interview has gone. This is where you'll show your hand and how you not only value yourself but how realistic your expectations are. Your expectations may be unrealistic, or perhaps they sell you short.

Perform research to find a realistic figure. Use your current earnings as a baseline. Contrast your current earnings with what you feel your current professional worth is in your job market, and allow for a range of flexibility with that number. Hold on to that figure before you offer it.

Before you offer your salary, discuss the benefits you receive from your current employer. Now is also the time to find out what they offer. Ask if they offer any retirement packages, PTO, etcetera. Once you find where they're meeting, exceeding, or wanting in this regard, you can adjust your number accordingly. Be open, realistic, and honest. Transparency is the best choice when salary-based questions arise.

Before volunteering your response and asking any questions, thoroughly research their website and job posting to make sure you don't ask any questions you should already have the answers to. For example, Target advertises on their careers page, "A healthy, happy and valued team - Our team members are the heart of Target's business, so we invest in opportunities to grow in their careers, take care of themselves and their families, and make a difference for our guests and their communities. That includes permanently raising our starting minimum wage to 15 an hour -- and it's only the beginning."