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Comment by leafmeal | Hacker News Reader

I was checking out the application for one of your positions and found this required question:

> Please provide your salary requirements or range.

I feel frustrated when I see that you haven't listed a salary range for your open positions, yet expect applicants to provide this information. I think it puts prospective employees at a disadvantage. Also it can waste applicants' time if you'll never pay as much as they need or expect.

I think your mission is valuable. I want public services to serve the public well. I hope you consider being more open about potential salary ranges because people like me would feel more comfortable applying.

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They (adhoc) pay scale for everyone ... as they are focused on pay parity. Everyone starts at the same equal level pay per job title and you can not negotiate your worth. Also, you have to take a lot of tests and go through a gauntlet of interviews. Personally I was exhausted after the first one in which they detailed their long drawn out process and dropped out. So, I'm gonna go through all that and I cant negotiate my worth/years of experience?

I will say its a good place/company for starting your dev/design/tech career.

Starting out your career with an inflated salary is better than anything they can offer.

What do they offer?

This may be illegal in California where employers must share their range and cannot ask candidates their salary history.

No, I don't see anything here that would be illegal in California. There's no requirement to include the salary range in a job posting or anything upfront, the obligation is to disclose the pay scale for a position "upon reasonable request." In fact, this is specifically called out as being after an initial interview.[1]

Employers can't ask candidates their salary history, but they can definitely ask the candidate for salary expectations.

[1] CA Labor Code Section 432.3 (c) An employer, upon reasonable request, shall provide the pay scale for a position to an applicant applying for employment. For purposes of this section, “pay scale” means a salary or hourly wage range. For purposes of this section “reasonable request” means a request made after an applicant has completed an initial interview with the employer.

Like many CA laws I don’t see how this is practical. Unless there is some reference to market ranges or something might as well say range starts at minimum and up to whatever made up budgeted amount, depending on experience.

And one is free to skip those companies. If those are the practices to entice you before you start, imagine how they would be when you’re working there.

You could say that for any labour regulation though. Like, how about skipping companies with non-competes? Or how about skipping companies paying below the min wage?

The reality is many people aren’t at the liberty of strictly choosing employers; and labor laws help raise pay for everyone at the detriment of corporations and investors b

Yes, assuming it will depend on the quality of the candidate, much better to publish a range and say "based on experience" Especially because salary requirements may be soft, and also dependent on a benefits package. I'd take a lower salary if there was, for example, an excellent 401k matching program, flextime, etc.

Agreed. I would not consider applying for a role like this where there is no clear commitment to salary or day rate, especially where there is a lengthy 3-step application process involved.

Agree. In the UK most salaries are stated upfront, especially contract work.

Personally I do not even bother looking at a job unless there is a salary/day rate stated.

Or you could just apply and say "1 Billion dollars".

In the UK it's only contract work that states a pay upfront. Usually a daily rate for tech work.

Permanent roles don't state salary. Exception being a few companies like government that have a fixed band (way below market).

...in your best Dr. Evil voice.

entitled much?

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