How To Include Your Salary History

During your job search, you may encounter requests for your salary history. This could arise in a job application or during an interview with a potential employer.

It’s natural to feel uneasy about this sensitive topic, especially if you’re aiming for a better-paying role or haven’t negotiated your salary previously.

This article provides guidance on how to handle inquiries regarding your salary history, ensuring you feel empowered to respond in a way that suits you.

Key Takeaways:

• Your salary history reflects your earnings from previous roles.

• As of 2026, questions about salary history are banned in 15 states, many major cities, and by notable companies, including Amazon, Facebook, and Google.

• If you prefer not to disclose your salary history, consider deflecting the question, providing a general range, or politely declining to answer.

• List company name, job title, and salary for positions held in the past 5-10 years, starting from the most recent.

What is Salary History?

Similar to how a resume chronicles your work experience, a salary history details your past earnings in those positions. This record should include the company name, job title, and the exact salary you received.

Salary history differs from salary requirements, which represent the compensation you need to accept a job offer. Your salary requirements should reflect a careful assessment of your market value based on the role you’re applying for and your individual qualifications.

Discussing salary requires a tactful approach; you want to assert your worth without overstepping when negotiating with a potential employer.

Why Employers Request Your Salary History

You may wonder, “Why does my employer need to know my salary history?”

Employers may inquire about salary history and requirements for several reasons:

• To gauge market value. Your salary history can reflect your experience level in a given field.

• To align expectations with budget. This helps employers ascertain whether your compensation aligns with their salary offerings. If your last salary exceeds what they can provide, it may signal a potential mismatch.

• To ensure fair compensation. Employers may need to adjust their salary range based on the qualifications of applicants. For instance, if they receive applications from individuals with significant salary histories, they might need to revisit their budget for the position.

Is It Legal for Employers to Ask for Your Salary History?

If you’ve never been asked to disclose your previous earnings, it’s understandable to be cautious. Certain cities and states have enacted salary history bans, preventing employers from requesting this information during the hiring process.

• According to the American Association of University Women, there are salary history bans in the following 15 locations:

  • Alabama

  • California

  • Colorado

  • Connecticut

  • Delaware

  • Hawaii

  • Illinois

  • Maine

  • Massachusetts

  • New Jersey

  • New York

  • Oregon

  • Puerto Rico

  • Vermont

  • Washington

  Additionally, numerous major U.S. cities, including New York and San Francisco, have their own regulations against salary history inquiries.

• Some companies have also eliminated interview questions about salary history, including Amazon, Facebook, and Google.

• Access to salary information can perpetuate wage discrimination and inequality, which is why these bans exist. Historically, marginalized groups have faced pay disparities, and their salary histories may reflect this.

• Research has shown that women, on average, earn $0.82 for every $1 earned by men, with variations across different racial and ethnic groups. This wage gap underscores the importance of salary history bans, which help mitigate the impact of past earnings on current opportunities.

• While many places have enacted these bans, there are still regions where it remains legal for employers to request salary history. If you’re uncertain about your state’s stance, consult your state department of labor.

How to Handle Salary History Requests

When prompted to include your salary history in your resume or answer a question during the application process, you can either provide an exact figure or a salary range.

• Be realistic and accurate. Employers may verify your salary with previous employers, making it critical to provide an honest figure.

• Decline or deflect. If you’re uncomfortable revealing your salary history, you can tactfully decline or deflect the question. It’s often easier to do this in an interview setting. You might say you’d like to learn more about the role before discussing salary.

How to Provide Salary History

Once you’ve decided to share your salary history with a prospective employer, consider how you will disclose this information.

Here are three effective approaches:

1. General terms. If you prefer not to share an exact figure, a general estimate can suffice.

   For example

   “My current salary is in the high fifties.”

2. A range. This method is ideal if your salary has increased since your starting point, showcasing your value and growth.

   For example

   “I began my role at $42,000, and my current salary is $58,000.”

3. An exact number. If you remember your past salary, provide the exact figure. Otherwise, rounding to the nearest whole number is standard.

   For example

   “My current salary is $58,000.”

While salary history is often discussed during interviews, you may also include it in your application documents or mention it in your cover letter if requested.

What’s Included in a Salary History List

Providing your salary history in a list format can alleviate some stress compared to discussing it face-to-face. You can prepare this in advance to organize your thoughts.

A salary history list should resemble a resume format, detailing jobs from most recent to oldest. Ensure the following information is included:

• Job title

• Company name

• Company location

• Start and end dates

• Annual salary

You may also add details about benefits, bonuses, or commissions. This should reflect your total compensation package rather than just base pay.

Remember, the salary listed should be your gross annual salary—before deductions.

Examples and Templates of Salary History

Below is a template for structuring your salary history report.

1. Template:

   Your Name
   Address
   City, State Zip
   Phone
   Email

   Salary History
   Production Editor
   Blue Swamp Publishing
   City, State
   Start date – Present
   Annual Salary: I started my position at $42,000 and my current salary is $58,000.

   Editorial Assistant
   Gator University Press
   City, State
   Start date – End date
   Annual Salary: $39,000

   Copy Editor
   Writers Literary Magazine
   City, State
   Start date – End date
   Annual Salary: $27,000

2. Mentioning benefits:

   Public Relations Director
   Beauty Edit Company
   City, State
   Start date – End date
   Annual Salary: $140,000 plus benefits

3. Mentioning regular bonuses:

   Social Media Coordinator
   Beauty Edit Company
   City, State
   Start date – End date
   Annual Salary: $40,000 plus an average quarterly bonus of $1,100

If an employer does not request your salary history, you are under no obligation to provide it. However, should you choose to share it, this information can help gauge your value and experience.

While it doesn’t guarantee matching your previous or current salary, it does facilitate negotiating a higher offer. As you progress in your career, you will likely seek salary increases.

Be prepared to discuss both your salary history and future expectations during interviews.

Salary History Tips

Consider these tips for framing an effective response:

• Do your research. Before discussing salary, know your worth in the market. Utilize resources like Zippia to determine what individuals in your role, with your experience and education, can expect to earn.

• Be respectful but firm. If an interviewer pressures you to disclose uncomfortable information, it’s a warning sign. Politely decline to share past earnings and redirect the conversation to current and future compensation.

• Back up your worth. During discussions, refer to your research and present a range instead of a fixed number, ensuring the lower end is above your minimum acceptable salary.

  Highlight your high-value skills, enthusiasm for the role, and past achievements. This leads us to the final tip:

• Discuss your past value in broader terms. Rather than focusing solely on past salaries, emphasize your achievements and the value you brought to previous employers. Use quantifiable metrics to illustrate how you contributed to growth or improvements.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, it’s advisable to keep your specific salary history private. The prevalence of salary history bans in numerous states and influential companies indicates that revealing this information generally favors employers over workers.

Furthermore, these practices can unintentionally perpetuate wage disparities. Individuals with historically lower salaries may continue to earn less, regardless of the value they provide.

Approach employers that request salary history with caution, and consider those that insist on it as potential red flags. Instead, use such inquiries as an opportunity to discuss your salary expectations and convey your overall market value.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.