Negotiating pay when I have been out of work - 11 months and counting

A recruiter asked for my salary expectations on a first call as I look for work as a janitorial supervisor. I would rather hear the honest version than the polite one. I looked up ranges in Milwaukee and they vary a lot. How do you research fairly?

Asking about the range for the role first worked for me. Some recruiters share it.

I gave a range based on local postings and said I was flexible depending on the whole package. They did not push back.