California Salary History Ban
AB 168
Regulatory Snapshot: California Salary History Ban
California Salary History Ban (AB 168) is an enacted law in California under the Employment & Worker Protection category. It was enacted on 2017-10-12 and becomes effective on 2018-01-01. California currently reports 12 tracked regulations with 12 already in force, giving the state a regulatory strictness score of 100/100 relative to the national baseline. PlainRegWatch last verified this entry on 2026-03-18.
Nationally, 107 states have enacted employment & worker protection statutes and 0 additional bills remain pending — 51 distinct jurisdictions have codified rules in this area so far. That places California within a mature and broadly adopted employment & worker protection landscape where compliance programs typically hinge on definitions in AB 168 itself.
Applicability under California Salary History Ban: All California employers including public. Penalty exposure is documented as: Labor Commissioner enforcement. Civil penalties $100-$10,000 per violation. Notable exemptions: Voluntary disclosure by applicant. Internal transfers..
Summary
California prohibits all employers from seeking salary history from applicants or using prior salary to set compensation.
Key Requirements
Cannot ask, use, or rely on salary history. Must provide pay scale on applicant request. All employers, private and public.
Penalties
Labor Commissioner enforcement. Civil penalties $100-$10,000 per violation.
Applicability
All California employers including public.
Exemptions
Voluntary disclosure by applicant. Internal transfers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which states have employment & worker protection regulations?
As of the last verification, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection regulations, with 0 additional bills pending across other states. California is among the states that has enacted such legislation. Browse all employment & worker protection regulations at plainregwatch.com for the complete state-by-state comparison.
When was California Salary History Ban enacted?
California Salary History Ban was enacted on 2017-10-12 and became effective on 2018-01-01. It was introduced as AB 168.
What are the penalties for violating California Salary History Ban?
Labor Commissioner enforcement. Civil penalties $100-$10,000 per violation. Note that enforcement mechanisms and penalty structures may vary. Consult the official statute and qualified legal counsel for specific compliance requirements.
Does California Salary History Ban apply to small businesses?
All California employers including public. Many state regulations include thresholds or exemptions for smaller organizations. Review the full applicability criteria and consult legal counsel to determine your obligations.
How does California compare to other states on employment & worker protection?
California has a regulatory strictness score of 100/100, based on 12 enacted regulations out of 12 tracked. Nationally, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection laws. Visit our state comparison page for a full ranking.
Where can I read the full text of California Salary History Ban?
The official text of California Salary History Ban (AB 168) is available from the California legislature. PlainRegWatch links to the official source for every tracked regulation. We recommend reviewing the full statute alongside qualified legal counsel for compliance planning.
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Disclaimer: This summary is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Regulation details may have changed since last verification (2026-03-18). Always consult official sources and qualified legal counsel for compliance guidance.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
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| Publisher | Kiznis Studio |
| Sources | Public state legislatures, IAPP, NCSL, and federal regulatory trackers |