Do job postings need a salary range in Washington? (2026)
Yes. If you have 15 or more employees and at least one works in Washington, every posting for a role a Washington-based person could do, including remote roles, must include a pay range (or the fixed rate, if that is all you pay) plus a general description of benefits and other compensation. This has been law since January 1, 2023 under RCW 49.58.110, and Washington is actively enforcing it.
Who it applies to
Any employer with 15 or more employees that does business in Washington or recruits for a role a Washington-based employee could fill. The 15 count includes employees outside Washington, as long as at least one works in the state. (RCW 49.58.110; L&I Job Posting Requirements policy, ES.E.2)
What has to be in the posting
The wage scale or salary range you genuinely expect to pay, or the fixed rate if you only pay one rate, plus a general description of the benefits and other compensation for the role. (RCW 49.58.110)
Do remote jobs count
Yes. If a Washington-based employee could do the job, the posting needs the range, even for a fully remote role. You cannot get around it by writing that you will not accept Washington applicants. (L&I Equal Pay and Opportunities Act Q&A)
What happens if a posting is missing the range
An applicant or employee can sue for statutory damages of $100 to $5,000 per violation, plus attorneys' fees and costs. This is not theoretical in Washington. Target settled a case over missing pay ranges in Washington postings for $2.225 million (Brinkman v. Target), and it was one of several. (RCW 49.58.110)
Is there a window to fix it
Yes, for now. For postings between July 27, 2025 and July 27, 2027, if someone gives you written notice that a posting is missing the range, and you correct it within five business days and tell any third-party board to correct their copy, no penalties or damages apply for that violation. That window goes away after July 27, 2027. Knowing what is wrong and where to fix it fast is how you use it. (RCW 49.58.110)
How this shows up across job boards
This is where it gets missed. A posting that has the range on your careers page can lose it when it syndicates to Indeed, LinkedIn, ZipRecruiter, Glassdoor, or Google for Jobs, because the field did not map or got stripped in the feed. Washington's rule covers postings you make through a third party. It does not cover a posting that a third party copied and published without your consent. The hard part is telling those apart and knowing which of your live board copies actually show the range right now. (RCW 49.58.110, definition of "posting")
Sources: RCW 49.58.110 · L&I ES.E.2 policy · L&I EPOA Q&A
Last verified: July 5, 2026. Written by Kate Rose, Relio.