Find a realistic goal regarding salary by doing your research. Be wary of selling yourself short. Don't aim too high either. The best way to discuss your salary expectations is to use your current earnings as a baseline. From there, contrast your current earnings with where you feel you are on your career path to where your ultimate career goals are heading. This should give you a reasonable expectation of what you should ask for. Also take into consideration any bonuses or incentives, your commute, and what kind of job market it is, and this presents an opportunity to inquire what kind of benefits they may be offering as well. Be open, realistic, and honest. Transparency is the best choice when salary-based questions arise.

"I am currently making 65,000 a year with my current employer, with a 2000 bonus at year's end. Understanding there is quite a shortage in the workforce right now, they've offered me more if I choose to stay. Also, it seems fair to mention I have pretty good health insurance benefits through work. Traveling to this location would also be quite a commute, and with gas prices where they're at, this could put a dent in my earnings as well. I imagine, due to the distance, it would cost about 150 a week for gas costs alone. That's nearly ten thousand a year in gas.

If you don't mind, before I throw out a number, I have some questions. Do you offer health insurance benefits? Do you have any commuter benefits? Is there a remote work option available for this position? Do you offer yearly bonuses? What is the budgeted range that you are able to offer for this position? Are there any other perks worth mentioning?"