Pay transparency and pay equity in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts pay transparency and salary-history: banned (m.g.l. c. 149 §105a), posting requirements, and remote-worker triggers.
What changes in Massachusetts
- Salary-history rule: Banned (M.G.L. c. 149 §105A). Employers may not seek wage-history information. Effective 2025, employers with 25+ workers must disclose pay range in postings.
"We post remote roles nationwide — how do we handle pay range disclosure? Focus on Massachusetts."
Ask this in Ask HR AIPractitioner steps for Massachusetts
- Step 1. Confirm whether Massachusetts bans salary-history inquiries — currently banned (m.g.l. c. 149 §105a).
- Step 2. Post a good-faith pay range on every MA job posting where required, including remote roles that could be performed in Massachusetts.
- Step 3. Include benefits and equity where the MA 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 Massachusetts statutes and references
- M.G.L. c. 6 §172 (CORI)
- M.G.L. c. 151B §4
- M.G.L. c. 149 §105A
- Acts of 2024 c. 141 (pay transparency)
- 15 U.S.C. §1681 et seq. (federal FCRA)
Frequently asked (federal + Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts topics
- FCRA adverse action in Massachusetts
- Ban-the-Box and Fair Chance hiring in Massachusetts
- Wage and hour in Massachusetts
- Leaves and accommodations in Massachusetts
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 California
- Pay transparency and pay equity in Colorado
- See all states
Keep going
- The federal Pay transparency and pay equity guide
- Massachusetts 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.