A higher paid salary has negotiating power when being asked to work over time. Want me to stay late for a couple days no problem. Want me to work overtime for a couple weeks? Then I need to be paid at least straight time for every hour worked past 40.
So far I haven’t had any issues with this approach. They either pony up or suddenly it’s not that urgent. Have yet to be fired, but I don’t get asked to work overtime unless it’s truly needed now.