We get this question a great deal and it is almost impossible to answer with any accuracy. Salary levels have so many variables built into them that it's hard to say a VP of Marketing should be making X amount of money a year or what a Director of Finance should be earning at a certain level. So many factors figure into the equation that it is impossible for us to give a pronouncement on salary even though we see salary levels and targets every day.
In a single day, we may work with three or four VPs of Operations. Their salary targets might range from $100,000 a year to over $200,000 a year. They may even have similar backgrounds and levels of experience. What makes one be able to command $100,000 more than another? There's not one single answer but there are contributing factors. Following are a few of them:
Confidence - Some job seekers simply expect to earn more and it magically happens. They set their sights on a goal and reach it.
Location - It is common to see higher salaries in locations where cost of living is higher. A VP in LA will generally command a higher salary than a VP in Charlotte, NC.
Company - Larger companies tend to have larger executive salaries than smaller companies.
Scope of Job - A VP with global responsibilities will probably earn more than a VP with only regional control.
Past Performance - Job seekers who are top producers can usually leverage that into higher salaries and better benefits because they are bringing more to the table.
Industry - Some industries naturally have higher salaries than others. For example, finance tends to be higher than manufacturing.
Not sure what you are worth? Salary.com is a good place to start plus start scanning salaries listed on job postings. They will give you a ballpark figure of what you can negotiate toward in the final stages of the offer.