How do you negotiate salary with confidence when you have no idea what the employer has budgeted for the role?

Here is the how to: 1- wait until offer time, to ask sooner is gauche and might put you further down their consideration list. It's not a discussion at this point because you are too far down the path. Next time ask for the range in your first conversations and if they ask you for yours first tell them you want to understand how they value this role against internal and company needs. 2- in preparation, look at ranges for the same title in other competitive companies and do some research using blind, salary.com and others. 3- when you get the offer, which may likely come from a recruiter graciously thank them and then let them know you have some day to day questions for the hiring manager. 4- when you speak to the hiring manager ask them about a few things. First where the role fits organizationally and if you are on a team to show you the org structure so that you can understand how they leveled you into the overall view. Then ask about the components of the compensation plan, base, bonus- how is this achieved and how do they measure success to rate you, and when. And lastly stock- if that is a part of the overall this is a BIG piece that can have a strong multiplier effect. Also ask about onboarding and what they want to see from you in the first 30-60-90 days. Then they know the conversation is not 100% about money. What you should come away knowing is how they plugged you into the job/level/team, how they reward with bonuses and other perks and when. How they allocate stock. If the company is private then RSU's are best because you are given them they vest and you don't pay out of pocket for them. They multiply if the company does well and can often be the best and biggest part of the comp program. Then you will know the value of your role and can decide if the compensation is fair comparatively and if you want to accept as is or to push the envelope. I generally suggest that you push a bit but in all areas equally because they may not want to give it all in the base. As an aside some companies will sweeten with a sign on bonus- that usually happens in tech. But with companies laying off that might be harder to get. Those often come with claw back clauses. For example they give you 10K in your first paycheck but it locks you into the company for 2 years or you have to pay it back. Good luck, this is a champagne problem to have. I hope my advice has helped some.