Yup, nothing wrong with asking.
And also, same person in different environment will have different outcome. A scholar joining an SME and DUN job hop and just go bang wall sua, actually you dun choose where you join also, just go see job sites for requirements...
If same position, doing about same thing lets just say engineering,
gov sector -> PHD/master
Mnc -> PHD/Master/Degree
Big SME -> Master/degree
SME -> degree/diploma
Small SME -> diploma/
ite
No need to say, pay who more who less kidda obvious rite.