Salary ranges on job descriptions.

35 Comments

1. Heather L.March 4,2022 at 10:17PM UTC

   Personal experience here recently - I appreciate it when a range is listed on the job description. Otherwise, I end up going to another resource (like Glassdoor) to have an estimate for that position in my region, and it isn't always accurate. At least listing a range gives me an idea of what a company is willing to pay, commensurate with skill and experience. It's definitely a plus for me in job hunting.

   Yes, I have declined to apply to positions that fit my skills but the proposed salary listed is much less than I think my experience and skills are worth in the job marketplace. A wide range did not automatically cause me to continue scrolling. I can confirm that it did give me a little more negotiation power, knowing what their "top dollar" was.

2. AnonymousMarch 4,2022 at 11:05PM UTC

   Please post a range to help all involved not waste time.

3. KatMarch 5,2022 at 3:18PM UTC

   Salary is one of the first things I look for. I think it should always be included. A broad range (like 15K) tells me there's room to negotiate based on my skills. A smaller range (5K) tells me there's not much wiggle room or chance for raises later. I recently read a lengthy PD that sounded good, but the pay range was $13/hour. No thanks! Salary ranges save time so I know ahead of time if I should apply.

4. Kat KarpinskiMarch 9,2022 at 1:57PM UTC

   $13 an hour is not even a "range" and surely below a decent liveable wage :) I feel like many job postings literally waste our time by being vague about what they are willing to pay for the work they want you to do for them.

5. Jacquelyn LloydMarch 5,2022 at 4:30PM UTC

   I've chosen not to apply for roles because there is no salary listed. Of course, putting a starting wage is better than nothing but a range says something about the opportunity, transparency, process, and attempts at equity.

6. GirlBossanova934974March 7,2022 at 1:23PM UTC

   10% up or down from the target price is a good range aka if you wish to pay $100K, the salary range should be $90K-$110K. Also make it clear as to why you would pay closer to the top part of the range such as specific software skill, more than xyz years of experience, extra points for "yada yada yada".

7. Joycelyn M. SiameMarch 7,2022 at 1:40PM UTC

   I have to say, for me it is very important that this is listed, as well as the benefits listed. I don't want to waste my time applying to job that can no even cover my basic requirements. Employers feel this way regarding people applying to jobs, and I believe this should work the other way around as well.

8. Kat KarpinskiMarch 9,2022 at 1:54PM UTC

   "this should work the other way around as well"

   Good point, Joycelyn! I agree wholeheartedly.

9. Book GoddessMarch 7,2022 at 1:44PM UTC

   Salary range helps you determine whether or not a job interview is worth your time. Ranges allow you to know how much negotiating you can do. Salary range also helps keep equity across gender and ethnicity. That is extremely important!

10. Christina JMarch 7,2022 at 1:58PM UTC

    I have always felt the range was for experience. Depending on the experience the person had that would determine the pay based on the range. It does make me question if I would get a fair pay because the experience would depend on what the company finds valuable.

11. MichelleMarch 7,2022 at 2:00PM UTC

    ok, I'm curious if a company gives you a number, can you still negotiate a higher number, or do you have to settle for what they give you or you walk away?

12. AnonymousMarch 7,2022 at 2:51PM UTC

    You can always negotiate before accepting an offer. Now if you know the range and you fall towards the top end of it, it might be more difficult to negotiate pay vs benefits but not impossible. Some companies are more willing to negotiate than others but I do tell my students that if they made an offer they are going to try within reason to get you to accept it through negotiations. They key is within reason.

13. Nikita WeinbergMarch 7,2022 at 2:15PM UTC

    I can say that I've been MORE inclined to apply for a role and PASSED on roles, as not to waste anyone's time. Salary ranges are to ensure that the pay gap between men and women is not only smaller, but hopefully closed - but in my opinion MOST helpful to those recruiters spending time with folks that they have NO intention of meeting their requirements. I have gone through SEVERAL interviews only to find out that their expected salary and mine were sometimes $30-$40k off the mark. WHY would anyone want to spend time on a conversation like that - unless of course those roles that align are open and you could realign there.

    In my opinion pay transparency has been looked at as a negative and not a positive…save yourself time and PRINT THAT PAY! If someone is currently making $40k per year and the role is advertised at $145k… I'm pretty sure the candidate is more likely to assess themselves and SELF-SELECT out.

14. AnonymousMarch 7,2022 at 2:23PM UTC

    I was extremely frustrated after going through 3 interviews to find the company offered $10,000 less than my current position. I will never apply for a position without a salary range being disclosed again.

15. AnonymousMarch 7,2022 at 2:27PM UTC

    Our company is HQ'd in Colorado which requires it so all jobs have the posted range. I will tell you the range is based on geographical locations more than any experience since the job requires a certain set we assume all candidates possess that - so when people come on and see the range from $85-165k they all get super excited and ask to be at that top range, when in reality thats basically the pay range for San Fran and nowhere else and most aren't even going to be in the $100 range. So I don't find it super helpful as a hiring manager who has ranges posted on their job openings. I end up getting a lot of candidates who think they can just request the high end and we don't even interview them.

16. AnonymousMarch 7,2022 at 2:27PM UTC

    As a hiring manager for a large company that posts its salary ranges, here are some things to keep in mind:

    -If the role is posted in multiple states or is remote, the range could reflect the smallest market to the largest ones contributing to the wide range.

    -The range of the role can be standardized by HR, but the individual business unit may have a different 'budget' in mind for that role - depending on skills the company values (ex: software versus digital marketing)

    Overall, I'm glad the ranges are posted. However, it would be more effective if the range was also reflective of the budget for the role. (Ex: $70k-95k vs. $70k-$160k)

17. Deborah Farrar StarkerMarch 7,2022 at 2:27PM UTC

    I'm the director of a history museum in New Jersey, and in our industry we post all jobs with salary ranges; albeit, they are not very wide ranges. We feel it is a better use of everyone's time to have realistic expectations. The candidate should understand what the position will pay, and we as the potential employer don't want to waste time interviewing people who are looking for salaries beyond our ability to pay. We have had good success with this model.

18. Emily KleinmeyerMarch 7,2022 at 2:42PM UTC

    Research shows you get more applicants with a salary posted. We used to have the max listed as "commensurate" with experience but have moved to posting the actual range budgeted. This means more realistic expectations for applicants and also assists with garnering an appropriate candidate pool. We still get candidates who want to make more but we have a policy that we can't hire outside the advertised range to ensure the pool is based on all the advertised factors (assuming different folks may have applied had the range been different). This does restrict some but makes the process smoother and we do have some different options for internal hires to ensure equity.

19. AnonymousMarch 7,2022 at 2:47PM UTC

    Personally, I look more closely at the bottom number than the top number. Yes, the top can be important but generally a company is going to fall middle to bottom. If I don't think the bottom number is sustainable for me I don't apply. Having a wide range though does allow me to know what they are willing to negotiate and where I might be able to end up in the future.

20. Veronica PattyMarch 7,2022 at 2:48PM UTC

    As a job seeker, I am more apt to apply if a salary range is posted. Often, no rate means being low balled or the company simply has a limited budget for the role. If there is a wide range, then I look for specifics on how actual range for an applicant may be determined: years of experience, years in same type industry, etc. If you have in-house recruiters, they may be able to narrow down the market rate for someone with the top applicant(s) qualifications. As for negotiation, I look at guides and similar jobs. I think you should decide what you really want in a candidate and be realistic about how much someone with those abilities and qualifications would expect. A lot changes in job markets and sometimes what was paid to a retiree may now be considered a starting salary.

21. AnonymousMarch 7,2022 at 2:49PM UTC

    Our company posts ranges that align with what level you could be hired on as. For example, we may post a role for a lead, but if a good candidate with director level experience comes through, we want to demonstrate what the max starting salary will be at the high end.

    I have used this information to my advantage in negotiations by looking to see if I can negotiate a higher title to land further up that range.

22. Shelley Maley, Career Coach (PHR, GCDF)March 7,2022 at 3:23PM UTC

    Hi Georgene,

    While I think it's wonderful that employers are starting to include salary ranges in their job postings (I've been advocating for this disclosure for a while now), wide ranges are really misleading. Candidates see that upper range and believe they can negotiate to that amount, when in truth that upper range may only be indicative of the maximum for an employee who has been employed there for a long period of time. In my opinion, the posted range should be reasonable and within $5,000 of the targeted salary. Otherwise, the range is misleading to potential candidates and leads to great disappointment when an offer is made. What are your thoughts on this topic?

23. Liz MilneMarch 7,2022 at 4:06PM UTC

    Agree, putting too wide a range and then saying 'we never start people in the upper half of that range' is very misleading!

24. Liz MilneMarch 7,2022 at 4:05PM UTC

    I would 100% be more interested in jobs with a clear pay range and structure in the job description.

    As a freelancer, I've seen too many writing jobs where you have to jump through an awful lot of hoops only to find that the job pays poorly, or sometimes not at all... Now, if it does't give a clear pay structure, I scroll past, even if it seems the perfect client (the perfect client would put pay info somewhere easily accessible!)

25. AnonymousMarch 7,2022 at 4:22PM UTC

    I agree 100% with putting a salary range on a job posting. I am no longer looking for a job but when I was a few years ago, it was so frustrating to apply for things that looked good only to find out they paid well below what I'm worth for my experience. It would save everyone a lot of time if these employers would just put the salary range in the job listing but they want to be able to get a $75k a year person for $50k so they continue to play the "how cheap can we get a qualified person?" game.

26. Chre M. Davis, M.S.Ed.March 7,2022 at 4:46PM UTC

    When I see a range I don't always think I should ask for the top of the range. But it should reflect my experience and show that upward mobility is possible. Something I have noticed more lately is that title ranges are being utilized more in job descriptions. For example, a generic "Operations" title, but then they will say that the title will vary from specialist to manager. So that shows they are willing to hire someone with less experience and pay less, but that they want the person to grow into the role in that case. I personally appreciate that.

27. AnonymousMarch 7,2022 at 6:04PM UTC

    The range has to do with years of expertise and what the candidate brings to the table from a knowledge and leadership perspective. If you are new to a level you can see where you might enter at this new position or if you are a seasoned professional you can see where the salary caps out. I think it should be required to post the range so everyone has transparency to what arrangement they are looking to form.

28. Hilary OborghayujieMarch 8,2022 at 1:07PM UTC

    To me I think sometimes salary range is not always the actual salary. They are presented for distraction. That is my thoughts anyway

29. Bevin MarieMarch 8,2022 at 2:07PM UTC

    I think the worst salary discussion I've ever had was where I applied for a promotion at my last company based on the published range ...and the they offered me a salary that was 10% less than the bottom of the range, and then proceeded to scold me for asking for the salary I deserved because the organization was a non profit. When companies advertise a salary range they should guarantee at least the bottom of that range.

30. AnonymousNovember 16,2022 at 7:03AM UTC
    My opinion is that the salary range does not necessarily reflect the actual pay of the position. They are provided as a way to distract the audience color tunnel
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