Salary Transparency Trends: How to Research and Discuss Pay in 2025

Money talks, and for companies looking for talent in 2025, salary transparency has never been more important. Salary can drive a job hunter's interest far more than other perks. For employees looking for a new position, asking the job you’re interested in to share their salary offerings can be a difficult conversation but necessary. Whether you’re in the middle of a job hunt or preparing to make a move, knowing how to research salaries and navigate pay conversations has become a core skill, not a bonus one. Let’s dive into salary transparency trends, how to set realistic expectations, and exactly what to say when it’s time to talk numbers.

Where To Research?

Websites like Huntr’s Job Search Trends report and industry-specific salary guides can give you detailed descriptions and justifications for why certain stages of the employment process for that specific role and position are what they are. It’s an array of influences, such as time in the industry, position, responsibilities, and everything in between.

Basic research is fine, but to come across as professional and well-educated in the salary discussion, it’s best to know what the facts are to not be undersold or taken advantage of.

Considerations With Your Research

Location

Where you are is an influential factor, as businesses have to adhere to the average salary within the location, but also, for example, a salary of $38,000 would be a better income in a town compared to a bustling city in a much more expensive area. Cost of living is different in each area, and therefore, these go hand in hand when determining what a comfortable salary is for the area you will be living in. Therefore, factor this into your research.

Analyze Job Descriptions

You want to ensure that what you are applying for and your salary expectations align with your role. If your responsibilities don’t meet or align with your research into what the average salary is for your job. Whether it’s an entry role or a manager role, there are variations and stages within each company, which may have the same job title, but the roles are different. Be sure to understand exactly how you are going to justify your salary expectation based on the tasks they are asking you to do.

This will come across not only as more professional but also as apparent that you have done your research and are clear regarding the role expectations.

Internal Benchmarks

It’s important to understand that starting salaries from a business perspective are a buffer period to compensate for training and so on. For example, an entry-level role in an industry that you may have very limited experience with can leave you in a space where you feel like you are being undercut. However, discuss the stages of pay changes in your future based on your performance. A good example could be a minimum starting salary, and within a 6-month period, if you exceed expectations, a pay review can be put in place to discuss your pay. This is a great way to understand the internal benchmarks they have in place and if the company can offer you consistent pay rises within your role.

Size Of The Business

You need to consider the size of the company; it’s not uncommon that larger companies can have more money to play with if they are smart with their business. Smaller companies rely more on specific things, and a change in things such as VAT, national insurance, and so forth can be a much greater setback and limit the ability to offer pay rises. Both are key considerations to be met to manage your expectations.

Start With the Facts

Not every job listing will share a salary range upfront, but many do, and this number is growing, with annual salary being the key deciding factor before hitting apply. According to Huntr’s Q1 2025 data, salary disclosure appears in just over half of all tech job postings. Some states are leading the way: in Washington, for example, 92% of listings include pay information, which happens to be the highest rate in the country. Oregon is close behind. But transparency still lags in many Southern and Mid-Atlantic states, where the majority of postings remain vague.

If you’re in a high-transparency state, you have a clear reference. In lower-transparency areas, use other resources—LinkedIn or salary sites—to determine a fair range. Search by title, company size, and location, then compare several postings to see where your expectations fit. Favour ranges over specific numbers, and base decisions on data.

Company Size, Skills, and Degrees All Factor In

Salary expectations shouldn’t be one-size-fits-all. Roles can pay very differently depending on the company and qualifications involved. Huntr’s analysis found that larger companies consistently offer higher salaries; organizations with over 1,000 employees posted a median midpoint salary of $127,500, which is about 14% more than the median for small startups.

Education still plays a crucial role, too. Jobs that require a master’s degree tend to pay about 15% more than the overall market average. But it’s not just about titles or credentials—skills matter. Certain capabilities command serious premiums. For example, roles that emphasize “product intuition” offer a 163% salary boost over the median tech job. Even specialisation when it comes to programming languages can make the difference. For example, those adept in using Swift and Go top the salary charts, despite Python being the most frequently listed.

With this in mind, set your salary expectation by considering your full profile, role scope, team size, standout skills, and overall company size. If you’re looking to relocate abroad for work, you also need to consider the cost to you (enlisting the support of an immigration lawyer), and also what the company will be supporting you with (Visa Sponsorship etc.). Avoid focusing only on the title or an unrealistic wage, and look at the overall requirements.

Know the Application Math

Many assume that the more applications you send, the more offers you will receive. On the contrary, the data suggests otherwise. In Q1 2025, Huntr users who successfully landed offers weren’t applying to hundreds of roles; instead, they were selective and intentional. Most users submitted five or fewer applications per week, and those who received offers typically did so after sending between 20 and 39 total applications.

It's also important to note that the hiring process is faster than you think. The data suggests that on average, the first interview takes place within 22 days, and the first job offer comes around day 58 into the application and interview process. That means most candidates are seeing real traction in under two months. If your job search is stretching far beyond that, it may be worth revisiting your resume, your positioning, or even your salary targets.

Overall, strategic application matters more than volume. A tailored application to a well-matched role is worth far more than spraying out resumes with no clear plan. That’s true when you’re talking about interviews, and especially when you’re discussing pay.

When and How to Talk About Salary

Nine times out of ten, your recruiter will ask you about your salary expectations, in most cases during the initial scope call. If you aren’t too sure how to answer or you’re yet to carry out your own research, that’s okay! Keep your answer open while obliging them to their questions. Creating a good relationship with the recruiter from the get-go will enhance your chances of being handed the most relevant and tailored opportunities.

“I’d like to get a better understanding of the role and responsibilities before discussing numbers, but I’m happy to revisit that once we’re further along.”

If you are ready to share a range, keep it grounded in research:

“Based on what I’ve seen for similar roles, I’d expect something in the $120K to $140K range, depending on the full package and expectations.”

If the job already lists a salary range and it works for you, acknowledge it directly:

“The posted range looks reasonable. Based on my experience with [specific skill or domain], I’d be aiming toward the upper end.”

There’s no need to overexplain or defend your number. Set a tone of clarity and calm confidence. You’re not demanding; you’re aligning.

Be Transparent With Yourself First

It’s easy to talk about salary transparency as something companies owe to candidates. But part of the process is knowing what you actually want. If your number feels inflated, make sure it’s backed by data, not hope. If your expectations are low, ask yourself why. Are you underpricing yourself to get a faster offer? Or trying to avoid rejection?

Let’s face it, we all experience impostor syndrome. If you can’t see your own value, how do you expect your employers to think otherwise?

Remote work preferences also factor in. Huntr’s survey found that candidates looking for remote or hybrid roles tend to expect higher salaries than those aiming for in-office jobs. That gap is real and growing. If you're applying remotely, don’t downplay your worth just to make your ask “easier”.

Salary is just one piece of the pie. Although crucial, make sure you’re ticking all boxes. From remote working to international work sponsorship, don’t wait until the offer is on the table to then ask for adjustments and additions.

Don’t Be Afraid To Negotiate

As mentioned in the internal benchmarking section, whether this is 6 months into the role or during the initial interview process, there isn’t a time scale for which you have to wait to negotiate. While some people may not need to negotiate to get their pay rises, as some companies are keen on keeping talent, for others it may just go over their head.

Overall, it’s a part of growing within a company and becoming more realistic with yourself and the business about your self-worth and worth to the company. You might not be well-versed on how to have a professional negotiation; therefore, you should articulate your skills, experience, extra contributions beyond your role and how they have helped the company. While a lot of people don’t or wouldn’t do work for free, it’s a great way to turn up to these negotiations with evidence to show that you are already doing the work and just not being compensated for it.

Showing businesses that you are showing up could be one of the main solutions to asking for a pay rise because, in the same breath, how are they able to disagree or counter that statement? Don’t let negotiations just fall under salary expectations but also other company benefits, things such as gym memberships, quarter celebrations, Christmas bonuses and so on. Limiting the conversation regarding your overall experiences in the workplace is also important. You want to feel appreciated for your hard work and knowing that other companies offer these kinds of perks can leave you curious as to why your company doesn’t offer them.

Final Thoughts

Discussing pay doesn’t have to feel awkward or overpowering. Done right, it’s just a part of the process, one that smart candidates approach with the same care and preparation as everything else in their search. Know what the market is offering, understand what you bring to the table, and when the time comes, speak up with clarity. Salary transparency starts with you being transparent with yourself. Be sure to enter the discussions fully prepared for common questions or counterarguments. It’s not a bad thing to ask for more money if you have the evidence to suggest you are well within your means and deserving of it. When in doubt, search common questions, have a practice conversation with a family member or partner or watch some helpful videos that can paint a picture of the conversation more clearly. Do your research based on modern and updated information provided by Huntr and official government websites, as economic changes can happen over a short period of time. If you’re actively looking for a job, you can sign up for Huntr to start building your resume today.