It's very simple:
As an employee, you want to be paid the max you can demand.
As an employer, you want to pay the minimum, while demanding the best quality you can.
At the end of the day, it's about how you manage the dynamics. Just as how a clever employee knows how to negotiate their position, be an employer who knows how to work their way out, hiring the best candidate within their budget.
Just life, live with it.
Salary discussions should stop