Recruiter asking what my current level is when applying for new roles - how to answer?

Agreed that you should not volunteer information like your current salary or level.

Many of the same aversion tactics can be used that we talked about for not revealing your compensation numbers. Some dialogue to use as a starting point:

• "For now, I'm more focused on evaluating if this is a good fit; I'm sure we can figure out specifics about what level I'd get slotted in later."
• "My company has a unique leveling system [or 'has had some recent changes'], so I don't think it's really applicable here."
• [if you do need to reveal the level] "I'm a high performer at my current company, and I'm actually going up for promotion to Staff Eng in the next cycle."

This can be tricky, especially when there's a concern of being potentially down-leveled.

I recommend a tactful approach, focusing on your skills, experiences and value rather than fixating on your current title.

For example, if you're aiming for a senior role, try and turn it around and ask what the criteria is for that senior position or use the job description as a reference.

"Could you share the responsibilities for a senior SWE in your organization? I'd like to understand how it aligns with my experience and skills."

or

"Based on the job description responsibilities, the role I am currently performing is in line with a senior position."

It would be helpful if you listed the responsibilities you currently have that line up with the role you're applying for.

I haven't met too many recruiters that push for the exact title after saying this. Putting my empathy cap on, they're just trying to gauge if you're a good fit for the role you're applying for. Most recruiters aren't as technical and use context clues to determine fit of candidate. Current position is just a context clue for them.

Keep aiming to level up! Good luck!