<prompt> Human: So I got a call recently from a company and Im really excited about it. I have an interview on Monday and this is my first ever non-entry level position.I do not have a degree. I have some college under my belt but thats it.Ive worked for my current company for 2 years and have gained a lot of marketable experience for the job I applied for.In the phone call, I think I got too excited. Let me explain...So in the application they require that you put your salary requirement range. I put 40k.My reasoning was that is what I would accept and what I felt like I deserved and it would be a big step up than my current pay.So when the recruiter called and asked if that still sounded good, I gave a resounding Yes. Because I was excited and taken off guard. I have yet to enter the interview though. He did mention that my prior experience is appealing, because I have history with the particular line of work theyre looking for, and while theyre accepting applicants of all backgrounds, my experience stood out. The problem is that I feel I may have sold myself short.After reviewing the market average for the position, I saw that the median for that type of position is about 52k.So. Say they give me an offer. And that offer is around the 40k mark like I said previously was fine. Have I given up my negotiating power?Can I still come back and aim for that median and we can still have a successful negotiation if I back up my negotiation with my prior, applicable experience and the market average? The good thing is that I actually like my current job, but this is just a wonderful opportunity for me. Does anyone have any insight for me?  <response>: You dont have a college degree so youre going to fall below the median if this job requires one. Dont think youre entitled to make above the midpoint just because you saw a number on the internet. A lot of factors go into compensation. You seemed excited about 40k or whatever the number was and told the recruiter you were okay with it. If the current offer is a step up from your current salary, then go for it. If its below what you make now, tell them your current salary so they can at least match it or offer more. Edit: I work in HR Consulting and specialize in recruiting and compensation 