Research shows that failing to negotiate a starting salary can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars over a career due to compounding base pay differences. Yet most professionals never negotiate, often due to fear and misinformation. This article synthesizes negotiation research to provide a complete salary negotiation framework: preparation (market research, BATNA development, quantifying your value), execution (anchoring high, using ranges, handling objections), and follow-through (getting offers in writing, negotiating beyond base salary). It also addresses the gender and racial negotiation gaps and provides specific strategies for underrepresented professionals.