Quick Salary Tip for Software Engineers 
Quicker Salary Tip for Software Engineers: The first one to mention a number loses.<p>Even when pressed, I <i>never</i> mention a number.<p>For both of our sakes, however, I want to make sure that we're in the same ballpark or we're wasting each other's time. So I may (only if I have no better way) say something along the lines of, "I'm in the 90's now, but I'm clearly underpaid and I'm looking for the best way to solve that problem."<p>Then I'll ask, "Are we in the same ballpark?"<p>If not, we both smile and move on.<p>If yes, we proceed. I always let them make an offer first. <i>That's</i> when the negotiation begins.