Have you ever negotiated and declined a job offer because they would not/could not meet your salary requirements? Was the pay a surprise?

I had an offer to go into international security work with a phenomenal salary. I would have been management and would actually have very little requirement to travel. Problem is that they required me to move to either metropolitan DC or New York City. I stayed on the farm in Michigan for about 25% of the money. Its not about money for me. It about lifestyle. I am not an urban guy.

Interesting question that I never experienced until after I retired. I'm a soccer referee living 30 miles south of the Canadian border. So they don't have much for referees there and I was invited to do games. Oh, $35 Canadian per game and I have to pay for my travel, lodging, food, etc. In other words I pay to work for you. It reminded me of hearing from several past employees of their experience about outfits that didn't have a grip on what it takes to make ends meet and expect people to fawn all over them because they exist. In my transitioning mentoring sessions I'd have after office hours for, I'd really work hard to make sure the MIL understood the concept of total cost of living and what value their skillset has in the marketplace overall. Believe it or not, the best outfits tend to pay in the middle range, hang around much longer, understand the competition, and have a plan into the future.

Bottom line, you have to make sure your salary "requirement" is in the marketplace range. I see a lot of mid level MILs get out demanding the same (benefits adjusted) or more salary and then wonder why it's hard finding work.

Yep, I've done this before. Was trying to work the same role at a different firm, and they could not match the salary requirements. It was a better company, but the work significantly increased but no pay.