How do I phrase my salary expectations?

Always a narrow range, never a fixed figure. Why a range: a fixed figure leaves no room for negotiation and can eliminate you too early or lock you in below your market value. Narrow ranges ('62,000 to 68,000 euros') demonstrate market knowledge. Wide ranges ('50,000 to 70,000 euros') appear unprepared. Data sources for research: BA Entgeltatlas (real social data, free, Q027), Destatis earnings structure survey, LinkedIn Economic Graph, Cedefop salary forecasts for Germany. Entgelttransparenzgesetz: employees have the right to salary information — use this internally if possible. Recommendation: set the lower value of your range so that you would be satisfied receiving it.