The salary transparency debate is over. The data is overwhelming. Candidates want to see salary. Posts with salary get more applicants. And in many states, it's now the law.
Yet companies still post jobs with "competitive salary" or "compensation commensurate with experience" — vague corporate speak that tells candidates nothing.
This guide covers what the data says, legal requirements by state, how to format salary ranges, objections and rebuttals, and when NOT to include salary.
The Data on Salary Transparency
Here's what happens when you include salary in your job posts:
More applications with salary posted
Of job seekers want to see salary
Higher click-through rate on posts with salary
What the Research Shows
Glassdoor (2023)
Job posts with salary ranges receive 75% more applications than those without.
Indeed (2024)
67% of job seekers say they won't apply to a job without salary information.
LinkedIn (2024)
Posts with salary information get 2x the click-through rate.
Payscale (2023)
Salary transparency reduces time-to-hire by 8 days on average.
The bottom line:
Hiding salary doesn't protect you. It just costs you qualified candidates who skip your post.
Legal Requirements by State
Salary transparency is now law in multiple states. If you have employees or remote candidates in these states, you must comply.
| State | Effective Date | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | Jan 1, 2021 | Must include salary range in all job posts |
| New York | Nov 1, 2022 | NYC only. 4+ employees. Salary range required. |
| California | Jan 1, 2023 | 15+ employees. Range required on request. |
| Washington | Jan 1, 2023 | Range + benefits in all job posts |
| Rhode Island | Jan 1, 2023 | Range required on request |
| Connecticut | Oct 1, 2021 | Range required after initial interview |
| Maryland | Oct 1, 2020 | Range required on request |
Remote Jobs & Compliance
If your job is "Remote - US" or allows remote work in any of these states, you must comply with their laws. Many companies now include salary for all roles to avoid legal issues.
EasyApply Checks Compliance for You
Post jobs with confidence. We'll remind you when salary is required based on location and warn you if your range is too wide.
Start Posting Jobs Free →How to Format Salary Ranges
Don't just slap "$50K-$150K" in your post. Format matters.
Good Formats
Option 1: Standard Range
Clean. Professional. Shows base salary clearly.
Option 2: Range + Context
Explains why there's a range. Manages expectations.
Option 3: Base + Total Comp
Total comp: $90,000 - $120,000 (with equity)
Great for startups with equity. Shows full picture.
Option 4: Hourly Roles
For contract, part-time, or hourly positions.
Bad Formats
Meaningless. Every company says this.
Too wide. Tells candidates nothing useful.
Cop-out. Still doesn't give a range.
No floor = red flag. What's the minimum?
Biggest red flag. Candidates will skip your post.
How Wide Should the Range Be?
15-25% spread is ideal
Example: $80K - $100K (25% spread)
25-40% spread is acceptable
Example: $75K - $105K (40% spread)
50%+ spread is too wide
Example: $60K - $120K (100% spread)
Objections & Rebuttals
Here are the most common objections to salary transparency—and why they're wrong:
"We'll get flooded with unqualified applicants who only care about money"
Rebuttal:
The opposite is true. Salary transparency filters out candidates outside your budget. You get fewer but more qualified applicants who know what they're worth.
"Competitors will see what we pay"
Rebuttal:
They already know. Salary data is public on Glassdoor, Levels.fyi, and Blind. Hiding it in job posts doesn't keep it secret—it just annoys candidates.
"Current employees will see we're hiring at higher rates"
Rebuttal:
If your current employees are underpaid compared to new hires, that's a retention problem you need to fix—not hide. Salary transparency forces fair compensation.
"We want to negotiate based on the candidate"
Rebuttal:
You can still negotiate—just within the posted range. A range gives you flexibility while showing candidates you're transparent and fair.
"Everyone will just ask for the top of the range"
Rebuttal:
Good. That's the negotiation starting point. You explain where they fall in the range based on experience. This is normal and expected.
The Complete Job Posting Guide
Salary is just one piece. Learn how to optimize titles, requirements, CTAs, and more.
Read the Full Guide →When NOT to Include Salary
There are a few (rare) situations where you might skip salary in the job post:
EXCEPTION 1 Commission-Only Sales Roles
When there's no base salary and earnings vary wildly, you can show:
EXCEPTION 2 Executive/C-Level Roles
Very senior roles with complex comp packages (base + equity + bonuses). Instead:
EXCEPTION 3 Roles with High Geographic Variance
If you hire globally with location-based pay, you can specify:
The Rule:
If the role has a salary, show a range. Exceptions are rare.
Salary Transparency Checklist
Before You Post:
Post Jobs with Salary Transparency
EasyApply makes it easy to include salary ranges, stay compliant with state laws, and get 30% more qualified applicants.
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