How about asking anything other than something related to pay? These sorts of questions are going to turn off a HR or hiring manager so you wont progress. Ask questions about the culture, values of the company, how the company actually follows through with their values, how they actually evaluate staff and when, how that evaluation outcome has anything to do with promotion, how the company is developing effective teams and effective leadership (these are all the things that will actually determine happiness in a job)
There's nothing wrong with asking about money, but try asking things that also won't put a company on the defense.
There's nothing wrong with asking about money, but try asking things that also won't put a company on the defense.