[learc83]

>2 years of experience vs PhD and 12 years of experience for a similar position

Why would you hire those 2 people for the same position? If the PhD with 12 years of experience is worth 50% more, then why not give them a better title?

[jjav]

When you initially post the job listing you can't predict you'll get a reponse from these two people, so you need to be flexible.

Sure, they wouldn't ultimately get hired into the same job level.

[learc83]

Then you post 2 different job listings. It’s not hard. You’d write 2 very different descriptions for someone those 2 hypothetical candidates anyway.

You also don’t need put $50k-$5,000,000 just in case John Carmack applies. If he does happen to apply to your junior engineer position, you instead interview him for another position with a higher salary band.

[brianwawok]

You may just need more developers, and sort out everyone’s exact skills later. People aren’t just cogs for a machine.