The $50,000 Rule — How to Write a Compliant Salary Range in Ontario
Listing a salary range in your job posting is now mandatory for most Ontario employers. But listing any range is not enough. The range itself must meet a specific standard — and many employers are getting this wrong.
“Posting a range so wide it tells candidates nothing is not compliance. It is a liability.”
What the rule says
Ontario’s Employment Standards Act limits the spread between the low and high end of any compensation range to $50,000. A posting that lists $60,000 to $120,000 has a $60,000 spread and is non-compliant. A posting that lists $60,000 to $110,000 is compliant.
This rule was introduced to prevent employers from using artificially wide ranges to technically satisfy the disclosure requirement while telling candidates nothing meaningful about what the role actually pays. Positions where the expected compensation or the top of the range exceeds $200,000 per year are exempt from the compensation disclosure requirement entirely.
What counts as compensation?
Compensation under the ESA includes base salary, formula-based commissions, and guaranteed bonuses. It does not include discretionary bonuses, tips, travel reimbursements, or stock options. If the role includes more than one type of compensation — such as salary plus commission — each type must be disclosed.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Posting a range your team will never actually approve — the number must reflect real offer parameters
- Using vague language like “competitive salary” or “commensurate with experience” — these do not meet the requirement
- Posting a spread wider than $50,000 — even if unintentional, it is a violation
- Omitting compensation entirely — no range at all is an automatic fail
Check your range before you post
BeazAtWork flags non-compliant salary ranges instantly. Paste your job posting, get your compliance score, and publish with confidence. For employers who want a fully compliant template from the start, the BeazAtWork JD Template is built to meet every ESA 2026 requirement.
