[singron]

Honestly employers have been kneecapping themselves with this. E.g. Google job posts usually post base salary for L3 even if the listing is obviously for L5/L6. The total comp is like 2.5x the advertised amount. Why wouldn't they try to put the biggest number they can get away with?

[almost_usual]

> Why wouldn't they try to put the biggest number they can get away with?

They don’t need to, people already know.

[shapefrog]

> Why wouldn't they try to put the biggest number they can get away with

It is unusual in a negotiation to offer to pay the largest amount possible as your opening bid - they do it so they can pay the smallest number they can get away with.

If there is someone amazing that they want to pay $25mil to - they wouldnt be advertising the role.