"I am not currently employed in a salaried position. My target compensation for the entry-level software engineer position is around 90k."

"I currently earn a base salary of 142,000, plus an annual bonus which has a target of 12%. I am looking for a competitive compensation package in my next position."

Remember to include any allowances, bonuses, or significant rewards such as high percentage 401k matches within your answer. It can be helpful to give the interviewer a sense of the total value you would need to receive to match your current reward scale. If you provide these details, break them down so the interviewer can understand the difference between your base salary and other benefits.

When working with clients who are confused about what to expect, I encourage them to reach out quietly within their network to see if anyone they know works at the company they are interviewing with. Insiders may be able to access the salary range information for the role and provide helpful benefits information. Also, several states are now required by law to disclose the salary range for open positions. I encourage my clients to run a position search in those states to see if there is a similar role open that provides the information they need.