Software Engineer Salary Transparency Requirements in Washington

What Does Washington Law Require?

Under Equal Pay and Opportunities Act (EPOA), effective January 1, 2023 (amended 2026), employers posting Software Engineer positions in Washington must include specific compensation disclosures. Here is exactly what the law mandates:

Why Software Engineer Roles Are Especially at Risk

Tech roles are the most frequently posted remote positions, making them a top target for multi-state compliance audits. Companies listing "Remote - US" without salary ranges face exposure in every active jurisdiction simultaneously.

The typical salary range for a Software Engineer is $120,000 - $200,000, though this varies significantly by seniority, location, and company size. Washington law requires that your posted range reflect a good-faith estimate of what you actually expect to pay - not an artificially wide band designed to technically comply.

Benefits Disclosure: Washington's Extra Requirement

Unlike many states, Washington requires that you go beyond just salary. Your Software Engineer posting must also include a general description of all benefits and other compensation. This includes:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Retirement plans (401k, pension, etc.)
• Paid time off (PTO, sick leave, holidays)
• Equity, stock options, or profit sharing
• Any other form of compensation (bonuses, commissions, signing bonuses)

A posting that includes the salary range but omits benefits information is still considered non-compliant in Washington.

Penalties and Enforcement

Non-compliance carries real financial consequences. Washington penalties for failing to include required salary information in your Software Engineer posting include:

Washington updated its law in 2026 to require written pay notices for new hires, adding an entirely new compliance obligation beyond just the job posting. The state also broadened the definition of "applicant" to include anyone who engages with the posting.

Remote Software Engineer Roles and Washington Compliance

If your Software Engineer position is listed as "Remote" or "Remote - US" and you do not explicitly exclude Washington from the job listing, you must comply with Washington salary transparency law. This is true even if your company has no physical presence in Washington.

Technology roles like Software Engineer are frequently posted as remote-eligible, which means many employers unknowingly trigger Washington compliance requirements. The safest approach is to include Washington-compliant salary disclosures in all remote postings, or to explicitly restrict hiring to states where you are not subject to transparency mandates.

How to Make Your Software Engineer Posting Compliant

Compliance is straightforward when you know what to include. Follow these steps:

1. Determine your pay range. Set a realistic minimum and maximum for the Software Engineer role based on market data and internal pay bands.
2. Include the range in the posting. State the range clearly - such as "$X - $Y annually" or "$X - $Y per hour." Avoid vague language like "competitive salary."
3. List benefits and other compensation. Include health insurance, retirement plans, PTO, equity, and any other benefits. Washington requires this alongside the salary range.
4. Run a compliance check. Use our free compliance checker to verify your posting meets Washington requirements before publishing.

Helpful Resources