No salary range listed — why, and is it a red flag?
15.8%
of the total ghost score rides on this one signal (18 of 114 points)
Why it matters
Ghost listings are rarely budgeted roles, so there is no real number to publish. A growing list of pay-transparency laws (Colorado 2021, NYC 2022, California and Washington 2023) requires ranges for covered employers — a covered employer that still hides pay is either non-compliant or not really hiring.
What it looks like
No dollar figure anywhere, or a dodge like 'competitive salary', 'compensation DOE', or 'salary commensurate with experience' with no numbers.
Can you even see it before applying?
Visible on 2 of 10 major boards (partial on 8, hidden on 0) — see the board coverage map.
What to do about it
Search the company's careers page for the same role — real, funded roles increasingly carry a range. If the company is in a pay-transparency state and still hides pay, weight this flag heavily.
Check a listing now: the free checker tests this flag (and the other ten) against any pasted listing — with the matched evidence. No signup.
Sources
- Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act (pay transparency)
- NYC Local Law 32 of 2022 (salary range disclosure)
- California SB 1162 (pay scale disclosure)