Just who is paying market salaries for each job? It's one thing to know a job pays a certain amount according to the Salary Wizard; it's another thing entirely, one reader finds, to land a job with a top-paying employer.

Many employees do hybrid jobs, which combine the responsibilities of two or more jobs. Although you don't get paid two salaries, you could be paid the rate of the job with the higher market value.

Can the government tell your prospective employer it has to cap your new salary at a certain percentage over your old one? Or is that just a recruiter's negotiation tactic to get a candidate to focus on something other than market value?

From May to September 2006, Experience asked graduating students (class of 2006) to share their success in finding a full-time job. We are pleased to let you in on this information now. Take a look at what the class of 2006 is up to- and benefit from the experiences of other members in the Experience community!

So you're entering the job force, and looking for an entry-level job to start your career off right. But that "entry level" thing scares you. You're worried: do those two words translate to "salary slave"?

When a prospective employer asks for something, many people figure they should give it. But with salary information, you don't get points for being nice.

How do you figure out what you're worth and actually get it?

During the economic downturn, many employees took on additional responsibilities without extra rewards. What happens if you give someone a promotion without a raise?

If you don't get a salary offer in writing, you could be disappointed as you start a new job and find you're being paid less than they said.

Employers often try to get candidates to disclose salary expectations, as one way of screening. You can throw the question back at the employer instead of being the first party to state a range.

When a company starts to consider you seriously, you should begin to think about the negotiation. What do you want? What are you prepared to accept? How badly do you want the job?

The job descriptors in the Salary Wizard are intended to reflect the minimum requirements for a job in most situations. Most jobs for librarians require not only bachelor's, but also master's degrees from MLA-accredited institutions.

If the interviewer does a good job telling you about the opening, you may find yourself with few remaining questions. So what should you ask about, and what should you say?

From May to September 2006, Experience asked graduating students (2006) to share their success in getting a full-time job. Based on member feedback, we are pleased to share this hiring information so you can benefit from the experience of other members in the Experience community.

Even in an increasingly uncertain economy, accounting and finance are core business functions vital to a company's ability to navigate difficult periods. As a result, demand remains steady for top accounting and finance expertise in key areas, according to the 2009 Salary Guide from Robert Half International.

Could you be falling further behind every year? Typical raises vary with the economy, but on average have been about 4.1 percent per year. If you regularly get less than that, you could be falling behind in your earning power.

Not everyone works 40 hours a week. So how do you know whether the rate offered for a part-time job is competitive? This week, Erisa Ojimba helps a reader calculate a part-time rate for a job based on the full-time market salary.

Does your paycheck add up? Do you trust that your employer is dividing your salary into equal payments that total to your salary offer? A reader has questions about the sums she's being paid, checking to make sure her employer is delivering on its promises.

Many negotiation hurdles are the result of stating your salary expectations up front. What do you do when a potential employer offers you a sum lower than your desired rate?

Startups are great places to gain job responsibility, but sometimes you have to make a tradeoff between responsibility and pay.

Think back to when you started college and faced the predicament of what to study. Chances are you chose a major based on one of these things: you loved the subject, it's what your parents wanted, or you thought it would help you get a job (a.k.a. you thought you would make a lot of money). Fast-forward to now: Is your salary something to brag about or is the major you chose hindering your earning capacity?

It is fine to engage in continuing rounds of salary negotiations, provided you don't waste your breath haggling over the final few dollars. Better still, negotiate for things on top of base pay.

If you're a top performer who's happy with your total cash compensation but interested in increasing your base pay, it still may be in your interest to negotiate on both base and bonus rather than base pay alone.

If your job responsibilities involve bringing in revenue but you're paid a flat salary, it may be time to ask your employer to recast your job as a sales position eligible for commissions or other forms of variable incentives.

Is it possible to overnegotiate? What if you're in the admirable position of having very competitive base salary and bonuses? What more could you ask for?

Even if you made a negotiation mistake and have second thoughts about the salary you accepted, it's not a good idea to ask for a raise on your first day of work.

There could be several reasons why your salary might be lower or higher than the Salary Wizard figure for a job in a specific geographic region.

Negotiating for a higher salary or more perks can be frightening at first, but if you let the offers come to you, you can end up with a deal on the table.

Although you shouldn't disclose your salary expectations at the outset, it's good to know where your pay ought to fall in relation to the market.

It's relatively easy to calculate an hourly or a daily contract rate (sometimes called a per diem) if you know the annual salary of a full-time person doing that job.

After two or three years at the same job, you may find that your responsibilities have evolved to the point where you are ready for a position - and a salary - at the next level.

When the job market is tight for employees, most employers understand how to interpret a few months of contract work on a candidate's resume.

It's time to persuade your employer to see things the way you do...or at least to understand the company's rationale.

So, just exactly who is eligible for overtime and minimum wage, and who is not? The answer turns out to be relatively complicated. It depends on job title and duties, which determine whether someone is exempt or nonexempt. To make matters more confusing, the definitions of exempt and nonexempt employees are roughly equivalent to, but not the same thing as, salaried and hourly employees.

If you know the pay range for the job, but the employer would rather you not know, it's best to keep the information to yourself. But you can still use it as an aid to negotiation.

Annual performance reviews, and the salary increases that often accompany them, typically take place either on the anniversary of the date you were hired or on some specific date that affects all employees within a specific group.

If your boss is rewarding friends and family while short-changing you, it might be time to circulate your resume.

Win-win salary negotiations should always conclude with a written agreement so that the employment relationship can be based on mutual, documented trust.

Q: A new person has been hired for the same job as mine but is making substantially more than me. What can I do about this?

As circumstances change at a temp job, it is sometimes possible to negotiate for higher pay - but go through the agency, not the company.

Inevitably the people left behind after layoffs take on additional responsibilities. Despite the sensitivity of layoffs, it may be possible to have your job reevaluated once the dust settles.

If your boss checks the "equity adjustment" box rather than the "promotion" box on the HR form you get with your raise, it could mean your raise is bigger than it would have been.

It's almost better not to know. But if you do accidentally find out what your coworkers are making, proceed carefully with the information.

This week, a reader asks about on-call compensation. What is the minimum an employee should receive for on-call pay, and how long should the minimum shift be for someone who is called in? How can you tell whether your on-call pay is competitive?

Salaried jobs and nonexempt jobs are not always the same thing. So even if you are supervising employees, you could be asked to punch in at the beginning and the end of the day.

The differences between salaried and hourly employees are set by federal law, but their subtleties can be lost in the translation. How does your status affect your job requirements and, more importantly, your bottom line?

The boss says, "You're extremely important to the company, and we want to pay you more - you tell us how much more." It's news any employee would love to hear - or is it?

Once in a while an employee makes more than the boss. If you're that boss, can you do anything about it?

Beginning in summer 2001, average raises began to decrease somewhat, according to information from human resources departments as published by reputable survey companies.

If you were asked to take on additional responsibilities, would you expect your paycheck to reflect the changes? Find out the difference between skills that boost your pay and skills that only boost your workload.

Salary.com's compensation experts have put together a checklist of the ten most important questions you should be able to answer about your stock options. Use this checklist as you prepare your research for a salary negotiation, or at your next performance review, or when you are in line for a promotion.

A reader accustomed to negotiating on behalf of the employer gets a taste of what it feels like on the other side of the table.

Raises typically range from 3 to 5 percent per year, but in times of economic uncertainty, some companies may give no raises at all. Is it unrealistic to hope for 10 percent?

Although employees typically don't get paid a premium for knowing two or more languages, you could be eligible for more pay if you are asked to serve as an interpreter or translator in your job.

Let's say you are contemplating joining a company in a different industry, although you intend to continue doing what you're doing now. The company you are joining is offering a much larger bonus than you are currently earning, but is ruling out that larger salary you were hoping for. That is, it has a different pay mix. Pay mix varies from industry to industry.

Sometimes even a big raise doesn't feel like enough. But if you don't know how big is big, how can you be disappointed with 11.5 percent?

A contractor moving from one region to another for the same client should negotiate different monthly rates based on the prevailing pay rates in each region.

Pay and proficiency usually go hand in hand. For the first few years at a new level, employees typically earn less than the median. Then, as skills and proficiency improve, pay typically follows.

You can run the numbers to compare whether you'll be better off with one total compensation package versus another. But you've also got to account your comfort level with the mix of types of pay, and the associated risks.

The rules regarding who is and is not eligible for overtime pay are somewhat complicated. But whether you get overtime or not, if you take time off from work and aren't eligible for paid time off, your employer can dock your pay.

Even if you slip up in a job interview and disclose your salary expectations before you know what the job entails, there's still time to fix this negotiation mistake.

Although more education can translate to higher pay, it's not always so, as in the case of the employee in a job that requires a bachelor's degree but pays less than a different job that requires only an associate's degree.

Often, the only way to get a raise is to ask for one. But before you waltz into the office and name your price, take time to prepare - there is an art to asking for a raise.

While we have seen some improvements in gender equality at the workplace in the last few decades, we also know that a wage disparity still exists between men and women for equal jobs.

It's a common preconception that working for a nonprofit, and promoting one's socially-oriented ideals, involves a pay-cut. It is true that on average one should expect to earn less in the nonprofit sector than in the for-profit business sector. But do the averages tell the whole story?

Employers are ready to hire and looking to woo 2008 graduates with signing bonuses and higher starting salaries than in years past.

Most job seekers believe that salary negotiation starts once they have an offer in hand, but nothing could be farther from the truth.

The Institute of Management Accountants' 2007 salary survey uncovered both good news and bad news for accountants. The good news: Average salary for IMA members now tops $100,000, having risen 6.9 percent last year. The bad news: The gap increased between men's and women's pay.

Looking for a job is all about being on the ball. But when it comes to talking about your future paycheck, it pays to procrastinate. Here are our tips on how to negotiate this thorny piece of the job search.

Every day, you get a chance to make a statement about your value to the company through your choice of clothes.

The trick with counteroffers is that nagging sensation that if they could afford to pay you more, why didn't they?

When it comes to salary negotiations, a two-letter word can cost you thousands of dollars.

From May to September 2006, Experience asked graduating students (class of '06) to share their success in finding a full-time job. We are pleased to let you in on this information now. Take a look at what the class of 2006 is up to- and benefit from the experiences of other members in the Experience community!

Employers who aren't handing out generous salaries (and even some who are) are finding themselves negotiating "creative compensation" with employees-that is, perks, niceties, and other non-monetary concessions that make life more convenient.

From May to September 2006, Experience asked graduating students (class of '06) to share their success in finding a full-time job. We are pleased to let you in on this information now. Take a look at what the class of 2006 is up to- and benefit from the experiences of other members in the Experience community!

If you do your salary research after your negotiation is over, you'll have to wait until the next negotiation opportunity to ask for the amount your research says is fair.

Think back: When was the last time you saw Carrie Bradshaw chopping vegetables or preheating an oven to cook herself dinner on "Sex and the City?" How about shopping on the clearance rack or setting foot inside a discount store?

Labor markets differ significantly from one country to another, so it's best to avoid mention of your salary history if you've been working abroad.

From May to September 2006, Experience asked graduating students (class of 2006) to share their success in finding a full-time job. We are pleased to let you in on this information now. Take a look at what the class of 2006 is up to- and benefit from the experiences of other members in the Experience community!

From May to September 2006, Experience asked graduating students (class of 2006) to share their success in finding a full-time job. We are pleased to let you in on this information now. Take a look at what the class of 2006 is up to- and benefit from the experiences of other members in the Experience community!

When it's time to take that first managerial job, how much should you ask for? A candidate contemplates the median salary for a managerial position in a retail setting.

From May to September 2006, Experience asked graduating students (class of '06) to share their success in finding a full-time job. We are pleased to let you in on this hiring information now. Take a look at what the class of 2006 is up to- and benefit from the experiences of other members in the Experience community!

From May to September 2006, Experience asked graduating students (class of 2006) to share their success in finding a full-time job. We are pleased to let you in on this information now. Take a look at what the class of 2006 is up to- and benefit from the experiences of other members in the Experience community!

For the first time, employees have access to the equivalent of a Kelley Blue Book for jobs. The availability of online compensation information has leveled the playing field between employer and employee.

From May to September 2006, Experience asked graduating students (class of 2006) to share their success in finding a full-time job. We are pleased to let you in on this information now. Take a look at what the class of 2006 is up to- and benefit from the experiences of other members in the Experience community!

To gauge the real purchasing power of your raise, you need to take into account the cost of living to see if your pay is increasing in real terms.

From May to September 2006, Experience asked graduating students (class of '06) to share their success in finding a full-time job. We are pleased to let you in on this information now. Take a look at what the class of 2006 is up to- and benefit from the experiences of other members in the Experience community!

Could you be falling further behind every year? Typical raises vary with the economy, but on average have been about 4.1 percent per year. If you regularly get less than that, you could be falling behind in your earning power.

Bonus programs can be confusing especially for new employees. Here is the lowdown on what bonus programs are and how they affect you.

A woman's work is never done. Though you might not know it to look at her paycheck.

From May to September 2006, Experience asked graduating students (class of '06) to share their success in finding a full-time job. We are pleased to let you in on this hiring information now. Take a look at what the class of 2006 is up to- and benefit from the experiences of other members in the Experience community!

Everything is negotiable.

If you have to return a signing bonus because you left the company before a specified time was up, you might still be able to recoup the money.

Employees in approximately one-third of all companies are eligible for bonuses of some kind. Bonuses are given to employees to serve the following purposes: to create incentives to reduce costs; to pay people for doing a good job; and to encourage employees to think like shareholders.

Benefits represent an additional 25 to 67 percent on top of base pay, so if your employer's base pay appears to be lower than what you could get somewhere else, make sure you look at the total compensation package.

Working at home can save employers costly corporate rents and can give employees some much needed flexibility in balancing their work and private lives, for example, by eliminating commutes. But when you work from home, make sure your employer reimburses your expenses.

If a prospective employer asks to see a paystub from your current job, it could be a sign of mistrust that will be difficult to repair once you are hired.

Do you expect to receive a pay increase when changing jobs? To a prospective employer, it doesn't matter that you're changing jobs - it only matters where your pay falls in relation to the rest of the market. So, research the market when setting your expectations.

When a company downsizes, many people are asked to pick up their roots and move to other parts of the country to continue working. It's important for those workers to research the differences in cost of living inherent to both locations.

Just like an interview, a job offer can tell you a great deal about a potential employer. An offer can reveal how serious the employer is about the offer, how valuable you are to the company, and most importantly, whether you should make the move.

It's OK to remind an employer of their verbal promise to review your salary six months after starting a job.

Studies show attractive students get more attention and higher evaluations from their teachers, good-looking patients get more personalized care from their doctors, and handsome criminals receive lighter sentences than less attractive convicts. But how much do looks matter at work?

Nothing in your performance review should come as a surprise, but if you take charge of your review and prepare thoroughly, you may be even more pleasantly surprised with the results.

When your compa-ratio - the ratio of your pay to the market rate for your job - significantly exceeds 100 percent, either your employer is extremely generous, your job is in great demand, or you are ready for a promotion.

Salary negotiation is a critical step in the hiring process, largely because candidates with the most in-demand skills are likely to be already evaluating other employment opportunities. Following are some suggestions to help ensure your offer is as attractive as possible.

If you're tapped for an international assignment with your company, your compensation should reflect the additional responsibilities and challenges. In addition to higher base, don't forget to ask for incentives.

If two identical employees worked for the same employer, one part time and one full time, they might expect to be paid at the same rate. But sometimes full-time employees earn more or are expected to contribute more than part-time colleagues.

A low raise may not be directly related to time off from work, but it could be indirectly related if the time off caused work to slip.

A new year means new beginnings: new resolutions, ideas and friends; new habits, relationships and goals; new salaries, titles and responsibilities. And perhaps most importantly, new jobs.

Some employers may pay part-time employers a slightly higher rate because they don't receive benefits. But it depends on whether the part-time employee is performing at the same level as the full-time counterparts.

In a 2000 poll of more than 3,500 company executives by recruiting firm Management Recruiters International, Inc., 61 percent of the participants believed the 9-to-5 workday will disappear in the next 10 years.

Have you ever gotten a verbal promise from an employer, then later on wished you had gotten it in writing? Be careful when saying yes to offers that involve future pay increases that aren't in writing.

You've been job hunting for an eternity, it seems. But when it comes to accepting an offer, remember why you decided to switch jobs in the first place. In addition to finding a job that interests you and takes you out of your boring routine, you want to receive a paycheck that reflects your worth.

How much does your company expect of you? If you're expected to do an excellent job, it can be very difficult to exceed expectations. But if your company's median raise is high enough, excellence may well be par for the course.

Salary.com asked some of its stock options experts to interpret a stock option plan from Dell Computer Corporation. Bill Coleman and Keith Fortier, neither of whom is a lawyer, have summarized each section in plain English and explained why it matters to the person who has stock options under the plan. The sections in italics are the actual language of the plan; the sections in regular type are Salary.com's interpretation.

It's all negotiable. Every new job - every performance review, in fact - is an opportunity to negotiate base salary, various kinds of bonuses, benefits, stock options, and other incentives that add to job satisfaction and provide financial security.

Do what you love and the money will follow is great in theory, but the truth of the matter is, certain jobs and fields simply pay more.

Will the organization be a good place to work? Will the job be interesting? How are opportunities for advancement? Is the salary fair? Does the employer offer good benefits? If you have not already figured out exactly what you want, the following discussion may help you develop a set of criteria for judging job offers, whether you are starting a career, reentering the labor force after a long absence, or planning a career change.

A woman's work is never done though you might not know it to look at her paycheck.