Salary History Ban Checker
See whether you can ask candidates about their prior pay in the state where you hire.
Reviewed by theComplianceToolsLibrary Editorial Team · Last updated
Key facts
- Not federal
- Salary-history bans are state and local, not federal
- Common rule
- Covered employers can't ask about or rely on prior pay
- Scope varies
- Some bans cover all employers; some only public employers
- Purpose
- To stop pay gaps from following workers between jobs
Can you ask about salary history?
Salary-history bans prohibit employers from asking job candidates what they earned in the past — and often from relying on prior pay to set a new salary. The goal is to keep historical pay gaps from following people from job to job. There's no federal ban, but many states and cities have enacted them.
Scope differs: some laws apply to all employers, others only to public employers or extend to city contractors. Many still allow you to discuss the candidate's salary expectations and to confirm pay history if the candidate volunteers it. Because the patchwork is broad and changing, check the rule for each place you recruit.
How to use this tool
- 1
Select the state
Choose a state where you interview or hire candidates.
- 2
Review the ban
See whether a salary-history ban applies and to which employers.
- 3
Adjust your questions
Replace prior-pay questions with salary-expectation questions where banned.
- 4
Verify specifics
Follow the linked resources for exact scope and local rules.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Asking for prior pay on an application used in a banned jurisdiction.
- Relying on a third party to obtain salary history indirectly.
- Applying one state's rule to a multi-state hiring process.
- Confusing salary expectations (often allowed) with salary history (often banned).
What to do next
- Remove prior-pay questions from applications used in banned areas.
- Ask about salary expectations instead.
- Train recruiters and hiring managers on the rule per location.
- Pair with the Salary Range Disclosure Checker for posting rules.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
Can employers ask about salary history?
Not in states and cities with salary-history bans. Elsewhere it may be allowed, but check each jurisdiction where you hire.
Which employers do salary-history bans cover?
It varies — some bans cover all employers, others only public employers or government contractors.
Can I still ask about salary expectations?
Usually yes. Many bans prohibit asking about past pay but allow discussing the candidate's expectations.
Is there a federal salary-history ban?
No. These bans are enacted at the state and local level.
Related tools
Share or link to this tool
Free to use and free to share. Link to it from your handbook, intranet, or blog — or embed the live tool directly on your site.
<a href="https://compliancetoolslibrary.com/tools/salary-history-ban-checker">Salary History Ban Checker — ComplianceToolsLibrary</a><iframe src="https://compliancetoolslibrary.com/embed/tools/salary-history-ban-checker/"
title="Salary History Ban Checker — ComplianceToolsLibrary"
width="100%" height="760" loading="lazy"
style="border:1px solid #e5e7eb;border-radius:12px;max-width:680px;width:100%"></iframe>
<p style="font:13px/1.5 system-ui,-apple-system,sans-serif;margin:8px 0 0">
<a href="https://compliancetoolslibrary.com/tools/salary-history-ban-checker/?utm_source=embed&utm_medium=widget&utm_campaign=tool_embed&utm_content=salary-history-ban-checker" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Salary History Ban Checker — ComplianceToolsLibrary</a>
</p>