Government plans law requiring employers to publish salaries in job adverts
The government has announced plans to make it a legal requirement for all employers to publish salaries in job adverts. Legislation will be brought forward as soon as possible, and the Prime Minister is asking businesses to start saying what they pay now.
What changed
The Prime Minister's Office announced on 5 November 2026 that the government will make publishing salaries in job adverts a legal requirement for all employers. It says it will bring forward legislation as soon as possible.
GOV.UK estimates that 41% of employers always publish salary ranges and 18% always publish specific salaries. It says early analysis shows 94% of respondents to the government consultation backed the requirement, including 93% of businesses.
Nothing changes in law yet. In the meantime, the Prime Minister is calling on all businesses to say what they pay on job adverts now, rather than wait for the law to change.
HRjoy’s view
Publishing pay in adverts is quick to start but only works if your pay structure can stand being seen. Employers without clear pay ranges, or with unexplained differences between people doing similar work, should sort that out first. Starting now, before the law requires it, also gives you time to handle questions from current staff.
Source
General information for employers in Great Britain, not legal advice.
What to do
- Check whether your job adverts show a salary or salary range
- Make sure each role has an agreed pay range before it is advertised
- Review whether advertised ranges are consistent with what current staff in similar roles are paid
Related answers
- What does equal pay law require of employers? Under the Equality Act 2010, men and women must get equal pay and contractual terms for equal work: like work, work rated as equivalent, or work of equal value. A difference is only allowed where it is genuinely explained by something other than sex, such as location or hard-to-recruit skills.
- Which employers must report their gender pay gap, and what is changing? Employers with 250 or more employees on their snapshot date must report and publish gender pay gap data within a year. Action plans on the gender pay gap and menopause support are currently voluntary and are expected to become mandatory in 2027: March for public authorities and April for private and voluntary sector employers.