Dean Jones says:

"What if I raise it to the 44th percentile?  That is a good starting salary for a fresh Ph.D. 

Also, if I give you TWO guaranteed trips, then it will increase your visibility among your peers because you are going to more conferences.

Therefore, this is the contract package I'd like to offer you:

 **TWO guaranteed trip to a conference each year for two years

 **$1,000 for software to analyze data

 **$10,000 for hardware (i.e., special computer processor and other equipment)

**One graduate research assistant for one year

 **A nine-month salary at the 44th percentile

 **Required to teach one summer session; it does not count toward your regular nine-month teaching load

 **Three-days-a-week teaching schedule for Fall and two-days-a-week teaching schedule for the following Spring."

Your Response:

1.  I accept your offer.

2.  You are offering a salary at the 44th percentile and I am requesting one at the 64th percentile.  Suppose we "split the difference" at the 54th percentile?

3.  Raise my software and hardware budgets and I will accept your offer.  After all, my research agenda will require some sophisticated computing power and specialized software...I can't buy it "off the shelf."