California pay transparency law
In effect since January 1, 2026
Pay ranges required in job postings
Pay scale: the good-faith salary or hourly wage range the employer reasonably expects to pay on hire (piece-rate or commission range where applicable)
| Who it applies to | 15 or more employees |
|---|---|
| Which jobs | Any job posting, including postings made through a third party; current employees and applicants may also request the pay scale |
| Penalties | Civil penalty of $100 to $10,000 per violation (Labor Commissioner) |
| Effective | January 1, 2026 |
Details and exceptions
- Current text amended by SB 642 (Stats. 2025, ch. 468), effective Jan. 1, 2026, which defines pay scale as a good-faith estimate of the expected range
- All employers must give an applicant the pay scale on reasonable request, and give a current employee the pay scale for their own position on request
- Employers must keep records of job titles and wage rate history for the duration of employment plus 3 years
Running payroll in California?
Recent changes
Last verified against the official source on October 9, 2026.
No changes recorded since we started tracking this page.
Sources
- California Department of Industrial Relations, Labor Commissioner's Office · data as of October 8, 2026 · last checked October 9, 2026
We copy figures from official sources and re-check them against the source before every update. See our methodology. This is general information, not legal advice.