Sure seems quiet today

[cmailliard]

This is difficult for me, I have never had a job were pay was handled like this. All my jobs were based on position and seniority. The only one that had any wiggle room was a teacher, but that was only because the Principal fought to get us the most money he could (school vs other schools). Other than that I have never seen this, as a course of my jobs. As a Firefighter it was all rank, years, and special things (HazMat, etc.). As a contractor I make what I make based on effort and quality of work.

Personally, all things being equal (time, skills, performance, etc.) everyone should receive the same pay. However, as others have said, it is like eBay. The value of something is the value of something. If your soon to be employer offers you $40,000 but you think you are worth $50,000 you may keep looking. You may find you are not actually worth $50,000 because you have not found someone willing to pay that. Value fluctuates for many reasons and what one person was hired at, may not be the same a year from now.