HOW's 2008 Salary Report shows that designers across the U.S. (with a few notable exceptions) are seeing fatter paychecks these days. How do your salary, bonus and benefits stack up vs. your peers'?

The degree of salary negotiability typically depends on the job role, the manager, the organization and your perceived value.

Even though compensation levels for creatives have leveled off, starting salary is still among the most flexible components of a job offer. Learn how you can win the salary you deserve.

Following are four sticky salary situations you may encounter in your career and how to handle each with diplomacy.