Median Advertised Salary in U.S. Tops $100,000 — But Most Job Listings Still Hide Pay

The median advertised annual salary in the United States has topped $100,000 for the first time, according to new labor market data. But most job listings still do not disclose what they pay — a gap that economists say may actually be holding workers back.

The data, compiled from across major job boards and recruitment platforms, shows that the midpoint of advertised salaries crossed the six-figure threshold in the third quarter of 2026. The milestone reflects a tight labor market where employers are competing for skilled workers across technology, healthcare, and professional services.

However, the analysis also found that more than 60% of all job postings still do not include salary information. States with pay-transparency laws — including California, Colorado, New York, and Washington — showed significantly higher disclosure rates, suggesting that regulation is driving the change.

"When salaries are hidden, the employer has the negotiating advantage, and that disproportionately hurts women and people of color," said one labor economist cited in the report. "Transparency laws are working exactly as intended."

Economists note that the $100,000 advertised median does not mean the typical American worker earns that much — advertised salaries tend to be higher than the actual median wage, which remains around $60,000 per year. Rather, it signals that the jobs being newly created and posted are increasingly concentrated in higher-skilled, higher-paying sectors.

Reporting by International Business Times. Read the original report: The Median Advertised Annual Salary in the U.S. Tops $100,000. But Most Job Listings Still Hide The Pay..