Wide salary ranges are silly but not crazy

idk if “unpopular opinion” is still a thing but here we go…

Unpopular opinion: crazy wide ranges in job posting salary ranges are not just because companies want to withhold information and drive job seekers crazy.

(Sure, it’s a reason, but it’s not the only reason.)

Anyone who has needed to hire before knows this to be true: there’s a salary you pay for someone who can do the job. And another salary you pay for someone who can do the job and transform the company.

There are next level people out there – surely you’ve worked with a few in your career – who have a level of strategy, leadership, or a mix of abilities that most people don’t have.

But that’s not even what today’s rant is about. Another non-trolling-you reason for wide salary range? There are people doing the exact same job right now with salary ranges all over the map.

Group A: the people who took advantage of the salary boom in 2021-2022 and kept that job through the 2023-2024 layoff era.

They’re at at the top of the range. Some still hate their jobs. But they’re not moving, unless they get that bag. Companies have to pay up.

Group B: the people who didn’t hold onto that gig. They’re either doing that job at a lower comp range or worse, not working at all.

So what is ‘fair market value’ exactly?

This is the main issue with salary data: averages can give you a general idea of what you can expect to pay or earn, but it can’t give you real-time expectations. Because they differ from person to person, from company to company.

The misunderstanding we see companies have: they think they can get people from Group A for the same salary as Group B. Or that splitting the difference with salary data will be a predictable way to budget for either group, for every hire.

Tldr: people are not interchangeable and the free market doesn’t work on averages.

And yes the 100k ranges are still silly. Don’t @ me.

Anyway, if you need help hiring (and navigating the 2025 wild west of comp) reach out to me here.

James Hornick

Partner at Hirewell. #3 Ranked Sarcastic Commenter on LinkedIn.