What Employers Need to Know About Cleveland’s New Salary Transparency Ordinance

The Cleveland City Council passed Ordinance No. 104-2025 on April 28, 2025, requiring employers with 15 or more employees located in the City of Cleveland to include salary ranges in all job postings. Additionally, the Ordinance prohibits employers from inquiring about a job applicant’s salary history.

In line with other Ohio cities, including Columbus and Cincinnati, the Ordinance broadly defines “salary” as hourly wages, commissions, bonuses, and benefits. While employers can still discuss salary expectations with applicants, they cannot rely on or ask about a candidate’s compensation history, or retaliate against a candidate who does not disclose their wage history.

The Ordinance includes several key exemptions. It does not apply to:

• Employers with 14 or fewer employees
• Internal transfers or promotions within the same organization
• Rehires, where the employer already possesses the applicant’s prior salary history
• Independent contractors
• Positions where compensation is governed by a collective bargaining agreement

While the City of Cleveland is included as an employer, other local, state, and federal government bodies are excluded. Employers who violate the law face civil penalties ranging from $1,000 for a first offense to $5,000 for a third violation within a five-year span.

The Ordinance will take effect on October 27, 2025.  Cleveland employers should begin reviewing their job postings, update hiring practices, and train relevant staff on the new requirements to ensure full compliance when the law takes effect.

Employers are encouraged to contact a member of Buckingham’s Employment & Labor group for more information.