New state law requires New York job ads to show salary rates

A statewide wage transparency rule goes into effect on Sunday, forcing help-wanted ads in New York to disclose suggested pay rates. This is part of growing state and city efforts to empower women and people of color to lobby for equal pay for equal labor.

Employers with at least four employees must publish wage ranges for any job posted publicly or internally to employees seeking promotion or transfer.

Supporters argue pay transparency will prohibit businesses from paying candidates less or more based on age, gender, color, or other non-skilled variables. 

Advocates say the change could assist underpaid workers realize they earn less than those in comparable jobs.

A similar salary transparency ordinance has been in place in NYC since 2022. The rest of the state joins California and Colorado in having identical legislation.

Not just legislators, but workers want to know how much they can anticipate at work. Workers want to know the compensation range, said Da Hae Kim, National Women's Law Center state policy senior counsel.

The 2022 law, signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul, will also apply to remote workers who labor outside New York but report to a supervisor, office, or jobsite there. Government agencies and temporary aid firms are exempt.