Salary Transparency Laws by State (2026 Hiring Compliance Guide)
Compensation & Compliance

Salary Transparency Laws by State (2026 Compliance Guide)

Pay range disclosure laws now cover roughly 40% of the U.S. workforce. This hub indexes every covered state and locality — so you can find the rules that apply to your next job posting, headline the right compliance language, and avoid fines up to $250,000 per violation.

Why this hub exists: Every state has its own effective date, its own penalty schedule, and its own definitions of "salary range" and "remote." Use the index below to jump straight to the per-state guide for your jurisdiction — or read the full salary-transparency compliance guide if you need the strategic overview.

Salary transparency has shifted from a nice-to-have to a compliance imperative. The HR teams winning in 2026 are the ones treating it as a recruiting tool, not just a legal checkbox — using disclosure to attract stronger candidates, reduce offer decline, and burnish their employer brand.

Click any state below for the effective date, the disclosure requirements, the penalty range, and a copy-paste salary section you can drop into your next job description. Each per-state guide mirrors the structure of our long-form salary transparency breakdown — just narrowed to a single jurisdiction.

Covered Jurisdictions

Pick your state to see exactly what's required

Twelve U.S. states and localities have active pay transparency mandates as of mid-2026. More are on the way — bookmark this page and check back before publishing any new posting.

Effective Jan 2021
Colorado
Salary range plus benefits description required in all postings; explicitly covers remote roles. $500–$10,000 per violation.
Effective Nov 2022
New York City
Salary range required in any posting for an NYC-based or hybrid role. Penalties up to $250,000 for repeat violations.
Effective Sep 2023
New York State
Salary range in all statewide postings when the role can be performed in New York. Fines scale up to $250,000 on repeat.
Effective Jan 2023
California
Salary range in all postings and upon request for current employees; enforced by the DFEH at up to $10,000 per violation.
Effective Jan 2023
Washington
Salary range plus benefits description in every posting for roles that could be performed in-WA. Up to $5,000 per applicant.
Effective Jan 2023
Rhode Island
Salary range required upon applicant request; voluntary disclosure in postings. Penalties $1,000–$5,000.
Effective Jan 2025
Illinois
Salary range plus benefits description in all postings (15+ employees). Fines $500–$5,000 per posting.
Effective Jan 2025
Minnesota
Salary range plus benefits description required for employers with 30+ employees. Up to $10,000 per violation.
Effective Jan 2024
Hawaii
Salary range required in all postings. Penalties up to $10,000 per violation.
Effective Oct 2021
Nevada
Salary range disclosure upon applicant request after first interview. $5,000 per violation.
Effective Jun 2024
Washington D.C.
Salary range plus benefits description in all DC-based postings. Fines $1,000–$10,000 per violation.
Effective Apr 2022
Jersey City, NJ
Salary range required in all postings for city employers. Penalties $2,000–$5,000.

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