2025: The Year of Pay Transparency – What It Means for Your Business

The era of pay transparency has arrived — companies can no longer afford to keep compensation in the dark. With new laws taking effect across the U.S., organizations are required to disclose salary ranges, and employees are expecting more visibility into how pay decisions are made. This shift isn’t just about compliance—it’s about building trust, improving talent retention, and driving organizational performance. 

Companies that embrace pay transparency now will strengthen employee engagement, attract top talent, and stay ahead of evolving regulations. Those that don’t risk falling behind. Here’s what you need to know about the 2025 push for pay transparency—and how to prepare. 

Why Pay Transparency Matters Now More than Ever

Employees have long sought fairness in pay, and 2025 marks a turning point. New legislation and changing workplace expectations mean that companies can no longer afford to keep salary information behind closed doors. 

Consider these stats:

• Over 80% of U.S. workers are more likely to consider applying for a position if the pay range is listed in the job posting.¹
• Employees who believe they are paid fairly are 85% more engaged and 62% more committed to their organization.²

Pay transparency isn’t just about compliance—it’s about building a more engaged, trusting and high-performing workforce. 

The 2025 Legislative Push toward Pay Transparency

As of 2025, more states have enacted pay transparency laws, requiring companies to rethink their approach to compensation: 

• Illinois (Jan 1, 2025): Employers with 15+ employees must list pay ranges and benefits in job postings.
• Minnesota (Jan 1, 2025): Employers with 30+ employees must disclose salary ranges in job listings.  
• New Jersey (June 1, 2025): Employers with 10+ employees must include salary ranges in postings.
• Vermont (July 1, 2025): Employers with 5+ employees must provide compensation details in job ads.  
• Massachusetts (Oct 29, 2025): Employers with 25+ employees must list pay ranges. 

And more states are expected to follow as we head into 2026.³ 

For organizations, this means now is the time to integrate pay transparency into hiring and internal processes before falling behind. 

How Companies Can Prepare for Pay Transparency

Pay transparency is more than just listing salary ranges—it requires structured job data and a clear compensation strategy to ensure fairness, compliance, and consistency. 

Companies preparing for this shift should focus on: 

• Standardizing Job Data: Clearly defining job roles and responsibilities ensures employees are paid fairly for their work. 

• Aligning Salaries to Market Data: Benchmarking against industry standards keeps pay competitive and equitable. 

• Using Compliance Tools: Staying ahead of evolving legislation helps organizations proactively adjust pay practices. 

Having the right tools in place is critical to compensation success. This is where JDXpert comes in. 

Bringing Clarity to Pay Transparency with JDXpert

JDXpert is a workforce information platform that helps organizations build structure, consistency, and compliance into their pay practices. With JDXpert, HR teams can:  

• Organize & Standardize Job Data: Ensure every role has clear responsibilities and aligned salary ranges. 

• Stay Compliant: Track and adjust to evolving pay transparency laws in real time. 

• Streamline Compensation Planning: Use market-based salary data to create fair and competitive pay structures. 

By leveraging JDXpert’s platform, organizations can proactively manage job data, align pay practices with compliance requirements, and foster a workplace where employees feel valued and informed. 

Brewing a Better Pay Strategy: How Sierra Nevada Streamlined Compensation

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., renowned for its craft brewing innovation, faced challenges in maintaining consistent and competitive compensation structures due to fragmented job data. This inconsistency made it difficult to ensure equitable pay across various roles within the organization. 

• Centralized Job Data: Consolidated all job descriptions into a unified platform, ensuring consistency and accessibility. 

• Aligned Compensation with Market Data: Utilized JDXpert’s tools to benchmark salaries against industry standards, ensuring competitive and fair compensation. 

• Enhanced HR Efficiency: Streamlined the process of updating and managing job data, reducing administrative overhead. 

For Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., adopting JDXpert was pivotal in creating a transparent and equitable compensation framework, reinforcing their commitment to employee satisfaction and operational excellence. 

The Path Ahead: Pay Transparency as a Workplace Standard

As 2025 unfolds, pay transparency is proving to be more than a regulatory requirement—it’s a shift toward a more equitable, open, and fair workplace. Organizations that take action now will create a culture where employees feel valued and informed. This isn’t just about numbers on a paycheck; it’s about demonstrating a commitment to fairness, integrity, and accountability.  

By putting the right processes and tools in place, companies can turn pay transparency into an opportunity—one that strengthens organizational trust, enhances employee engagement, and fosters a workplace where people know they are compensated fairly for the value they bring to the business. 

JDXpert is here to empower HR leaders and their organizations to boldly embrace this change. Because when pay is clear and trust is strong...businesses thrive. 

1. https://www.shrm.org/executive-network/insights/people-strategy/unlocking-black-box-pay-transparency-state-laws-winter-2024 
2. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231030084928/en/Employees-Are-More-Satisfied-With-Work-but-Financial-Security-Concerns-Remain-High-According-to-a-Mercer-Survey 
3. https://www.aon.com/aon/en/insights/reports/north-america-pay-transparency-readiness-study 

Unreliable job information is the top obstacle that limits HR executives’ ability to drive meaningful people strategies. By managing your job data with JDXpert, you’ll bring clarity to chaos and become empowered to build an exceptional workforce. 

For more information on how JDXpert helps HR leaders like you manage their job data, request a demo today.