Salary negotiations are tricky. Whether you're a full-time designer seeking a raise or an unemployed print project manager on a third round of interviews, arguing for more money can be anxiety provoking. You don't want to appear greedy, but you do want a salary that matches your worth in the marketplace.

Following are four sticky salary situations you may encounter in your career and how to handle each with diplomacy:

Sticky Situation #1: Your coworker is making a lot more money than you, even though you both hold the same job. You recently went to lunch with a fellow graphic designer, and he bragged about the big raise he just received. While it may be frustrating to learn that your coworker does the same work as you, yet earns considerably more, this knowledge alone does not give you a bargaining chip to argue for a higher salary. For one thing, your job and your coworker's position may be less alike than you think; he may have more years of experience than you or a particular set of skills that you lack, for example. Also, your manager may be concerned that salary figures, which should be confidential, are being shared within the department.

It's almost always a bad move to base a request for a raise on a coworker's salary. Instead, conduct some outside research. Scour creative publications, career-related websites, and resources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook and The Creative Group's annual Salary Guide (Visit www.creativegroup.com to request a complimentary copy). These should help you establish a pay range for your position, as well as determine what others in your market are receiving.

Also figure out how much leverage you have before approaching your manager. Are you a graphic designer with web-development experience? If so, you may have some bargaining power. According to a Creative Group survey of 250 advertising and marketing executives, these professionals are among the most highly sought in the creative industry. Presentation specialists, on the other hand, aren't as highly sought, according to the same survey. Keep these nuances in mind when discussing salary increases with your supervisor.

Sticky Situation #2: You're interviewing for a position and want to know the salary range. Imagine you're going in for your second interview for a position as an art director at a well-known advertising agency. The job description is exactly what you're looking for, as is the work environment, but salary hasn't yet been broached. Should you bring it up? In a word, no. As you move farther along in the interview process, and the company becomes convinced you're the ideal candidate, your bargaining power increases. Wait and see if the hiring manager broaches the subject first.

If you sense an offer coming, and the hiring manager still remains silent, you'll have to be the one to introduce the topic. After all, you need to know if you can afford to take the position or not, even if it's your dream job. To get the discussion started, be direct and ask him or her about the salary range for the opening. As long as the range is in line with your expectations, salary talks should go smoothly from there.

Sticky Situation #3: You've been offered a dream job, but the salary is much lower than you'd like. Do you negotiate? The answer is yes, within reason. If current salary trends show that your skills are worth more than the initial offer, you probably have some leverage to negotiate a bump in pay. However, before you ask for more money, make sure the firm is in solid fiscal health. A company that has recently experienced a financial setback will have less room for salary increases than one that's experiencing growth. And be sure you consider the big picture. Compensation packages include more than just money: Vacation time, flexible work hours and medical coverage are just a few of the perks that may make up for a smaller-than-anticipated paycheck. Also look at the opportunity itself. If you'll be a production manager at a major Hollywood studio and your passion is film, you may be willing to forgo a high salary for a job you love.

Sticky Situation #4: You've accepted a verbal offer, but when you receive the offer letter, the salary is lower than what you agreed to. Your first move in this situation is to immediately contact the hiring manager and let him or her know about the discrepancy. It could simply be the result of a miscommunication between the manager and someone in the company's human resources department. If this isn't the case, allow the hiring manager to explain. He may have thought he made it clear to you that the salary he offered verbally was contingent upon approval by the company's president. If his explanation rings true, you need to decide if you can afford to take the position at the lower salary. If things still seem fishy, consider whether or not you want to work for someone who isn't completely straightforward with you.

No matter what situation you encounter when negotiating salary, remember to remain flexible and professional throughout the process. By coming to the bargaining table with a clear sense of your salary goals, you should be able to reach a deal that's satisfactory to both you and your employer.

The Creative Group is a specialized staffing service placing creative, advertising, marketing and web professionals on a project basis with a variety of firms.