Global Salary Transparency in Job Postings 2025
An in-depth analysis of salary transparency across different countries and US states, based on data from over 4 million job listings.
Global Salary Transparency Trends
In an era where workplace transparency is increasingly valued, our analysis of over 4 million job postings from 100,000+ company career sites reveals significant variations in salary transparency across the globe. This comprehensive study, conducted from January to March 2025, provides unique insights into how different countries and regions approach salary disclosure in job advertisements.
Key Global Findings
Austria leads the world in salary transparency, with an impressive 86% of job postings including salary information. This is significantly higher than other European nations and sets a global benchmark for salary disclosure practices.
The United States ranks second globally, with 54% of job postings including salary information, demonstrating a strong commitment to transparency, particularly driven by recent state-level legislation.
Canada follows with 42% of postings including salary details, while the United Kingdom shows a moderate level of transparency at 38%.
Regional Variations
Europe
- Northern Europe shows varying levels of transparency, from the Netherlands (34%) to Sweden (3%)
- Western Europe demonstrates mixed adoption, with France at 18% and Germany at 15%
- Southern European countries generally show lower transparency, with Italy and Spain both at 9%
Asia-Pacific
- Indonesia leads the region with 25% transparency
- Australia and New Zealand show moderate levels at 20% and 18% respectively
- Japan maintains limited transparency at 9%
- China and India show the lowest rates in the region at 4% and 2% respectively
US State-by-State Analysis
The United States shows significant variation in salary transparency across different states, largely influenced by local legislation and business practices.
Leading States
- Washington: 82%
- New York: 81%
- Colorado: 77%
- California: 77%
- Minnesota: 73%
Regional Patterns
West Coast Dominance
The Western states generally show higher transparency rates, with Washington, Colorado, and California all above 75%. This trend reflects these states' progressive stance on workplace transparency and employee rights.
Northeast Corridor
Northeastern states show strong transparency levels, with New York leading at 81% and several other states maintaining rates above 60%, including Vermont (66%) and Rhode Island (62%).
Southern States
The South generally shows lower transparency rates, with South Carolina having the lowest rate nationwide at 39%. Other southern states like Arkansas (41%) and Kentucky (43%) also fall below the national average.
Impact and Future Trends
The data suggests a growing global movement toward salary transparency, though with significant regional variations. Countries and states with specific salary transparency legislation generally show higher disclosure rates, indicating that regulatory measures can effectively drive change in this area.
Key Takeaways
- Regulatory influence is clear in high-performing regions
- Cultural differences play a significant role in transparency levels
- There's a notable divide between developed and developing markets
- The US shows strong regional variations, often correlating with local legislation
Methodology
This analysis is based on data from over 4 million job postings across more than 100,000 company career sites, collected between January and March 2025. The study defines salary transparency as the inclusion of either a specific salary figure or a salary range in job postings.