@grendel84 an employer asking this question is illegal in 17 states and 17 more localities https://www.salary.com/resources/guides/salary-history-inquiry-bans/
not that that stops anybody
whoops make that 22 states and 22 localities. check out this garbage website aimed at "human resources" people that lists the bans in danger-red https://www.hrdive.com/news/salary-history-ban-states-list/516662/