Europe's pay transparency rules: what changes for job seekers

"Salary: depends on experience." Europe is slowly saying goodbye to that line.

What happened

The EU Pay Transparency Directive (2023/970) had to become national law by 7 June 2026. Only a handful of countries (Slovakia, Italy, Lithuania and Malta) made the deadline; the rest are catching up. (Lewis Silkin)

What it means for you

• Pay ranges before interviews. Employers must tell you the pay range (or starting pay) before the interview, often in the job ad itself.
• No salary-history questions. Employers can't ask what you earn now or earned before.
• Real ranges, not silly ones. Ranges are meant to reflect actual pay, not "€30k–€300k".

Rules and timing differ by country, so check where you're applying.

How to use it

• Filter out ads with no pay information in countries where the law is already in force.
• Don't volunteer your current salary. Talk about what the role is worth.
• Compare ranges across a few similar jobs before you name a number.

How Zoe helps

Zoe flags jobs with missing pay, shows the range when there is one, and helps you prepare a number for the salary conversation.

Sources: EU Directive 2023/970; Lewis Silkin (July 2026).