Why? There are a few reasons.
First, maybe they were going to offer you, say, $90,000 - but you tell them you currently make $65,000. Once they hear that, they might decide to offer you just $70,000.
Second, maybe they can only offer you $60,000 because that's all they have in the budget for this particular position. When you say you currently earn $65,000, they might think they can't afford you or assume you wouldn't be willing to take a pay cut, and therefore decide not to move forward with you as a candidate.
Third, if you make much less than the average person in your job, the employer might assume you're not a highly valued employee. If you're paid a lot more than the average worker in your position, they might assume you're overqualified.
And lastly, it's just awkward to discuss how much you earn, especially with a stranger.
But whether you like it or not, there's a good chance this question will come up in the interview process.
We spoke to Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and the author of "Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job," who provided tips for handling this query. Here's what she said: