Got the offer. Now what? Most developers accept the first number. Or they counter with a random 10% bump and hope for the best. Both approaches leave money on the table. I negotiated three offers in the past year. One added $15K to the base. One added an extra week of PTO. One went nowhere because the company had a rigid band system. Here's what I learned about what works and what doesn't. Before the offer call Negotiation starts before the number hits your inbox. Research the range. Check Levels.fyi for your exact title + company (if public). Check Glassdoor salary data. Check Blind for anonymous comp threads. You need three numbers: the bottom of the range, the midpoint, and the top. Know your BATNA. Best Alternative To Negotiated Agreement. In plain English: what happens if you walk away? Another offer? Your current job? Freelancing? The stronger your alternative, the stronger your position. If you have nothing else, you can still negotiate — just with less leverage. Decide your priorities.…