Ad on the company's own website advertises a salary range of $45-$50k. Thinking that since I live in an area of the country with a high cost of living and have experience, the starting pay would be $50k. Nope, initial email said the salary was $45k and it was not negotiable. When the first email from HR gives you the salary upfront, that usually indicates that they get further in the process with candidates who then turn down the job because the pay is awful. Why offer a range in an ad and it not be the reality? And who with experience is going to work for $45k a year? Nobody worth their salt. Even $50k is low, but at least a foot in the door of the company. Goodluck with filling the open position paying slightly more than fast food jobs.