STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Hmmm, IMO if the job is well suited to your education and experience, you should be able to expect a 'going-rate' of sorts.  Many times, if they want you bad enough after and interview or two, you should be able to ask for any reasonable amount and be pretty likely to get it.

For example, when FH and I moved to Spokane I knew I needed a job that paid $10 per hour to make ends meet.  So obviously, I skipped applying at places I new would start any worker out on minimum wage (McDonalds, mall stores, etc) and ended up a receptionist at an accounting firm making $10 per hour (had 2 years of experience already).  After that job ended, I interviewed for another receptionist position at an Electrical Contractor.  They interviewed me twice, had me do a half day working interview, and they hired me about halfway through.  We talked bacon at the second interview, where I said that I'd like to be in the $11-$12 range.  They offered me $11/hr, but gave me a raise to $12/hr a couple months later.

So anyway, moral of the story is that you kind of just have to know 'what you're worth' and go from there.  You deserve to be paid XYZ dollars because of your education and experience, and probably wouldn't want to work for a company that would offer you considerably less than that anyway.  Oh, and always ask for a little more than you actually want - at best (if they offer you the job), you'll get it and at worst you'll get what you actually wanted anyway.