How do I answer "What is your current salary?" without getting lowballed?
In many states and cities, it is legally prohibited for employers to ask for your salary history. Even where legal, sharing your current salary locks your future compensation to your past earnings. Pivot immediately to your target salary range based on market research for this specific scope.
What Actually Happened Behind the Curtain
The 60-Second Self-Test
Check if any of these conditions match what happened to your application:
- ✓Do you know the market salary band for your target role in your location before jumping on the call? If not, check Levels.fyi, Glassdoor, and Colorado/NYC/California public pay transparency postings.
The Before & After Evidence Fix
"Right now I make $95k, but I am hoping for a bump to around $110k if possible."
Why it fails: Anchors your value to your past employer and invites a lowball offer.
"I am not focusing on past compensation since the scope and impact of this role are distinct. Based on my research and the responsibilities of this position, I am targeting between $140,000 and $155,000 depending on the total benefits package. Is that aligned with your approved band?"
Why it passes: Pivots smoothly to market value, establishes professional authority, and puts the question back on the employer to confirm their band.
How to Fix This Tonight (Action Plan)
- Never disclose past compensation numbers on a phone screen.
- Give a clean $15,000 range based on market data for the target position.
- Ask the recruiter to confirm the approved band for the role.
- Use the Salary Underpayment Calculator to verify your true market worth.
Calculate Your True Market Compensation
Find out how much compensation you are leaving on the table due to the Resume Undersell trap.
Calculate Underpayment Free →Frequently Asked Questions
What if the online application requires a number in a salary field?
If the form field forces an integer, enter "0" or the bottom of their posted transparency range. Never put your actual current salary.