Employment & Worker Protection · Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Salary History Ban
Bill No. 160840 - enacted in Pennsylvania.
- Enacted
- Status
- 2017
- Enacted
- 51
- States with employment & worker protection laws
- 34/100
- Pennsylvania strictness
The bottom line
Philadelphia Salary History Ban is an enacted law in Pennsylvania, part of a mature, broadly-adopted employment & worker protection landscape.
- Enacted
- effective 2019-02-01
- 51
- states have employment & worker protection laws
- 107/107
- employment & worker protection laws enacted nationally
- 34/100
- Pennsylvania strictness score
Data compiled 2026-03-18 from the official Pennsylvania legislative record linked below; laws can be amended or repealed after this date.
Regulatory Snapshot: Philadelphia Salary History Ban
Philadelphia Salary History Ban (Bill No. 160840) is an enacted law in Pennsylvania under the Employment & Worker Protection category. It was enacted on 2017-01-24 and becomes effective on 2019-02-01. Pennsylvania currently reports 2 tracked regulations with 2 already in force, giving the state a regulatory strictness score of 34/100 relative to the national baseline. PlainRegWatch compiled this entry's data on 2026-03-18; consult the linked official source for the current, authoritative text.
Nationally, 107 employment & worker protection statutes have been enacted and 0 additional bills remain pending - 51 distinct jurisdictions have codified rules in this area so far. That places Pennsylvania within a mature and broadly adopted employment & worker protection landscape where compliance programs typically hinge on definitions in Bill No. 160840 itself.
Applicability under Philadelphia Salary History Ban: Philadelphia city employers. Penalty exposure is documented as: Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations enforcement. Up to $2,000/violation. Notable exemptions: Positions where salary is set by law. Voluntary disclosure..
Summary
Philadelphia city-only ordinance banning salary history inquiries. Note: state preemption attempted but courts upheld ordinance.
Key Requirements
Cannot ask about prior salary. Cannot search records. City of Philadelphia employers only.
Penalties
Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations enforcement. Up to $2,000/violation.
Applicability
Philadelphia city employers.
Exemptions
Positions where salary is set by law. Voluntary disclosure.
How Pennsylvania compares on employment & worker protection
51 states regulate employment & worker protection - Pennsylvania ranks #26 by overall regulatory strictness. Bar = state strictness score (0–100).
| # | State | Strictness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 100 |
| 2 | Colorado | 76 |
| 3 | Texas | 69 |
| 4 | Connecticut | 62 |
| 5 | Illinois | 62 |
| 6 | Minnesota | 62 |
| 7 | New York | 62 |
| 8 | Oregon | 62 |
| 9 | Washington | 62 |
| 10 | Delaware | 59 |
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. Pennsylvania 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 Philadelphia Salary History Ban enacted?
Philadelphia Salary History Ban was enacted on 2017-01-24 and became effective on 2019-02-01. It was introduced as Bill No. 160840.
What are the penalties for violating Philadelphia Salary History Ban?
Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations enforcement. Up to $2,000/violation. Note that enforcement mechanisms and penalty structures may vary. Consult the official statute and qualified legal counsel for specific compliance requirements.
Does Philadelphia Salary History Ban apply to small businesses?
Philadelphia city employers. 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 Pennsylvania compare to other states on employment & worker protection?
Pennsylvania has a regulatory strictness score of 34/100, based on 2 enacted regulations out of 2 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 Philadelphia Salary History Ban?
The official text of Philadelphia Salary History Ban (Bill No. 160840) is available from the Pennsylvania 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 this data was compiled (2026-03-18). Always consult official sources and qualified legal counsel for compliance guidance.
More Pennsylvania Regulations
The bottom line
This law is already in force - here's what matters for employment & worker protection compliance.
- Philadelphia Salary History Ban is enacted in Pennsylvania, effective 2019-02-01. Official source
- 51 states now regulate employment & worker protection; Pennsylvania ranks #26 by strictness - compare requirements before you operate across state lines. Compare states
- See every regulation Pennsylvania tracks across all five policy areas. Pennsylvania profile
Summaries are general information, not legal advice; always confirm against the official statute and qualified counsel.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Verify with the official Pennsylvania source →
Every figure on PlainRegWatch is rendered directly from state source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal and state source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.