Dean Jones says:

"So what you are telling me is that you are willing to come to our university and work at the 54th percentile, correct?  What if we 'split the difference' and I raise the starting salary offer to the 51st percentile?  Then you can tell your advisor that you got an 'above-average' salary!

Also, I will raise your software budget to $1,300.

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

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

 **$1,300 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 51st percentile

 **Required to teach one summer session; it will 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.

2.    Throw in a free parking permit and a $500 book allowance and you've got yourself a deal.