>> would you rather make your client happy by getting them a bargain
Recruiters are usually paid based on a percentage of the salary. It's actually in the interests of the recruiter that you are paid as much as possible, strictly speaking.
In reality, my goals as recruiter are:
* happy client
* find a new employee who the employer is super happy with six months down the track
* find a new employee who wants and enjoys this job, and will thus stay
* at a salary that the new employee is happy with, that will not have them looking over their shoulder thinking they have udnersold themselves
* at a salary that will ensure we are not beaten to the punch by another higher paying employer
* at a salary that fits the goals of the employer
The idea of "getting an employer a bargain" implies that I don't care about the job seeker. Believe it or not, I do. When someone comes to me who is a great developer, and is asking under market rates, I discuss that will them and let them know where I think market rate is for their skills and experience.
It might sound cliched, but my job is to negotiate a deal that everyone is happy with, and every gets what they want. Anything less will fail because the employee feels they are underpaid, or the employer feels they overpaid.
I believe the above approach to dealing with salary gets everyone what they want. And yes, I the more it is the happier I am, but it would be very much against my interests to manipulate that.