Negotiating pay when I have been out of work (update)

I have been out of work for 6 weeks and feel pressure to accept less. This is my first time dealing with any of this. I looked up ranges in Charlotte and they vary a lot. How do you research fairly?

Check several sources for pay in Charlotte, then pick a range where the low end is one you can live with.

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