Pay transparency and pay equity in Washington.
Washington pay transparency and salary-history: banned (rcw §49.58.100), posting requirements, and remote-worker triggers.
What changes in Washington
- Salary-history rule: Banned (RCW §49.58.100). Employers may not seek wage-history information. Effective Jan 1, 2023, employers with 15+ workers must disclose pay range and a general description of benefits in postings.
"We post remote roles nationwide — how do we handle pay range disclosure? Focus on Washington."
Ask this in Ask HR AIPractitioner steps for Washington
- Step 1. Confirm whether Washington bans salary-history inquiries — currently banned (rcw §49.58.100).
- Step 2. Post a good-faith pay range on every WA job posting where required, including remote roles that could be performed in Washington.
- Step 3. Include benefits and equity where the WA 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 Washington statutes and references
- RCW §49.94
- RCW §49.58.100
- SB 5123 (2024)
- SB 5793 (2026)
- 15 U.S.C. §1681 et seq. (federal FCRA)
Frequently asked (federal + Washington 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 Washington topics
- FCRA adverse action in Washington
- Ban-the-Box and Fair Chance hiring in Washington
- Wage and hour in Washington
- Leaves and accommodations in Washington
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
- Washington 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.