Budget vs Talent

Something i gotta ask cause its been bugging for the past few months now. I landed a long term contract job but i have been trying to get out of contract work and back into permanent status. My last handful of interviews have went well i make to the point where they decide who they want to hire never get hired. I have what it takes but i wonder if my resume portraits that i need a high salary…..i might need to dumb it down.

I know from a IT management cause i been there you need to be able to balance both but which is more important when hiring in our field?