One thing to keep in mind, specifically about positions in academic institutions, but perhaps others: you have to get what you can get on your way in. Once hired, you will not get more than cost-of-living raises (if that) with perhaps a percent or two leeway for performance. The only way to get a real raise in these organizations is to get promoted to a new position, which is why they are constantly doing internal reorgs and creating new titles and reporting lines for the same bunch of people.