Pay transparency and pay equity in California.
California pay transparency and salary-history: banned (lab. code §432.3), posting requirements, and remote-worker triggers.
What changes in California
- Salary-history rule: Banned (Lab. Code §432.3). Employers may not ask about prior pay and must provide a pay scale on request. SB 1162 (2023) requires the pay range in job postings for employers with 15+ workers.
"We post remote roles nationwide — how do we handle pay range disclosure? Focus on California."
Ask this in Ask HR AIPractitioner steps for California
- Step 1. Confirm whether California bans salary-history inquiries — currently banned (lab. code §432.3).
- Step 2. Post a good-faith pay range on every CA job posting where required, including remote roles that could be performed in California.
- Step 3. Include benefits and equity where the CA statute or local ordinance requires them alongside the base range.
- Step 4. Retain the wage records and job description that support the posted range in case of an enforcement action.
Applicable California statutes and references
- Cal. Civ. Code §1786 (ICRAA)
- Cal. Gov. Code §12952
- Cal. Gov. Code §12954
- Lab. Code §432.3
- SB 1162 (2023)
- 15 U.S.C. §1681 et seq. (federal FCRA)
Frequently asked (federal + California overlay)
Which states require pay ranges in job postings?
California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington all have posting or on-request pay range disclosure statutes, plus several cities with their own rules.
Can I ask an applicant about their current salary?
In many states, no. Salary-history bans in states like California, Massachusetts, New York, and Washington prohibit asking about prior compensation, though applicants can voluntarily disclose.
What is a pay equity audit?
A privileged statistical review of compensation across protected classes for similarly situated employees, used to identify and correct unexplained gaps before litigation.
Related California topics
- FCRA adverse action in California
- Ban-the-Box and Fair Chance hiring in California
- Wage and hour in California
- Leaves and accommodations in California
Same topic in another state
- Pay transparency and pay equity in Alabama
- Pay transparency and pay equity in Alaska
- Pay transparency and pay equity in Arizona
- Pay transparency and pay equity in Arkansas
- Pay transparency and pay equity in Colorado
- Pay transparency and pay equity in Connecticut
- See all states
Keep going
- The federal Pay transparency and pay equity guide
- California background-check rules
- Compliance checklist
Ask HR AI is not legal advice. Confirm any final answers or suggested actions with your employment legal counsel before acting on them.