California Pay Transparency Act
SB 1162
Regulatory Snapshot: California Pay Transparency Act
California Pay Transparency Act (SB 1162) is an enacted law in California under the Employment & Worker Protection category. It was enacted on 2022-09-27 and becomes effective on 2023-01-01. 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 SB 1162 itself.
Applicability under California Pay Transparency Act: 15+ employees (postings). 100+ (reporting). Penalty exposure is documented as: $100/employee first, $200 subsequent. $100-$10,000 reporting failures. Notable exemptions: Under 15 employees (posting only)..
Summary
Pay scale in postings (15+ employees). Annual pay data reports (100+).
Key Requirements
Pay scale in postings. Pay data by race/ethnicity/sex for 100+ employers.
Penalties
$100/employee first, $200 subsequent. $100-$10,000 reporting failures.
Applicability
15+ employees (postings). 100+ (reporting).
Exemptions
Under 15 employees (posting only).
Official Source
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220SB1162Frequently 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 Pay Transparency Act enacted?
California Pay Transparency Act was enacted on 2022-09-27 and became effective on 2023-01-01. It was introduced as SB 1162.
What are the penalties for violating California Pay Transparency Act?
$100/employee first, $200 subsequent. $100-$10,000 reporting failures. Note that enforcement mechanisms and penalty structures may vary. Consult the official statute and qualified legal counsel for specific compliance requirements.
Does California Pay Transparency Act apply to small businesses?
15+ employees (postings). 100+ (reporting). 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 Pay Transparency Act?
The official text of California Pay Transparency Act (SB 1162) 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 |