Why This Matters
With the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) banning pay secrecy clauses (effective December 2022), workers have earned the right to speak openly about pay. Workers who use that power over their earnings are getting ahead. You are no longer limited to guessing games. There are real ways to take control of your earning potential, if you know how to use them.
The Old Way Is Broken
Let’s be honest about how things used to work:
You applied for jobs with mystery salaries.
You guessed the pay, accepted whatever they offered, and hoped you were getting a fair deal.
You couldn’t talk about pay without feeling awkward or at risk.
Meanwhile, employers held all the cards. They knew exactly what everyone made, what the budget was and what they could afford to pay. You were negotiating blindfolded while they had perfect vision. That system worked great for employers, but left good people stuck in jobs that didn’t pay what they were worth. And it wasn’t just about money. When you don’t know your value, it affects your confidence, your career choices, and how you see yourself professionally.
How Pay Transparency Changes Everything
Pay transparency isn’t just about posting salary ranges on job ads (though that’s part of it). It gives you the information to help you stay ahead and make the right career moves, whether that means growing in your current company or moving across roles, industries, or employers.
Here’s what becomes possible:
Plan your career like a chess game.
Let’s say you know that senior analysts in your field typically earn around $95,000, and team leads make about $120,000, you can map out exactly what skills and experience you need to get there. The actual numbers vary by industry, location, and company, but having a ballpark based on verified data gives you a clearer path.
Spot opportunities you might have missed.
Your marketing role may pay far more in tech companies. Suddenly, that industry switch doesn’t seem so scary.
Negotiate from a position of strength.
Instead of asking “Can I have a raise?” you can say “Based on market data, people in my role typically earn $150,000. Let’s discuss bringing my compensation in line with that.”
Make smarter job decisions.
No more accepting a job offer and finding out six months later that you left money on the table, because someone doing the same job is earning significantly more.
Discover hidden career paths.
You might find that your customer service experience is valued much higher in SaaS companies, or that your admin skills could land you a coordinator role at double the pay.
Taking Control: What This Really Means for Your Life
Plan Ahead with Clarity
Instead of hoping for the next raise, you can see how salaries progress in your field and plan your moves or skills that help you reach your short and long term goals. You can see that if you develop certain skills or move into specific roles, you may likely earn 10 percent more.
👉 Want to buy a house? Pay transparency helps you figure out the career steps that could get you to that deposit faster.
👉 Thinking of switching careers? You can map out the financial timeline before you make the leap.
This isn’t about being money-obsessed. It’s about being able to make real plans.
Advocate for Yourself (And Others)
When you know what fair pay looks like, you become a better advocate, not just for yourself.
👉 Notice when you are not getting paid fairly at work and speak up about it. This creates a ripple effect. The more people who understand their worth and speak up about it, the more companies have to actually pay fairly.
You’re not just helping yourself but helping raise the bar for everyone.
Take Calculated Risks
Want to switch industries? Start your own business? Go back to school? These decisions get way less scary when you have good data about what different paths pay.
👉 Example: Want to join a startup? You might discover that while the base salary is lower, the equity compensation could actually put you ahead in the long run.
👉 Example: Going back to study? Understand what pay to expect afterward.
The Ripple Effects
Pay transparency doesn’t just affect your individual situation. It is changing the entire job market in ways that benefit workers.
Companies Get More Competitive
When everyone can see what different companies pay, employers have to actually compete on compensation. They can’t just lowball you and hope you don’t know that their competitor pays 20% more for the same role.
Career Switching Gets Easier
One of the biggest barriers to changing careers used to be not knowing what different fields paid. Now you can research exactly what that marketing role pays compared to your current finance job. You can see the financial impact of different career moves before you make them.
How to Use This Shift to Your Advantage
Start Collecting Information
Look at job boards like Seek and Indeed for salary ranges, salary platforms like Glassdoor and levels.fyi, and chat with people in your field.
Look ahead
Research not just your role, but the next step up. Look at where you want to be in 2-3 years. What do those jobs pay? What skills get you there?
Get Comfortable Talking About Money
Practice discussing compensation with family, or trusted colleagues. The more comfortable you get with these conversations, the easier it becomes to talk salary negotiations at work.
Join the Movement
Support pay transparency initiatives in your workplace and industry. The more workers push for transparency, the faster this change happens for everyone.
Help build Australia’s salary transparency movement. Share your salary anonymously on Echochime and be part of creating fairer pay for everyone.
The Big Picture
Pay transparency isn’t just about individual pay checks. It’s part of creating a fairer job market for everyone. When more workers understand their worth, it becomes harder for companies to underpay, and easier for good workers to find employers who value them.
You don’t have to wait to benefit from this shift. Start gathering salary data today, research your market value, and use it to make smarter career decisions — whether that’s negotiating your pay, planning your next move, or switching industries.
The workers who thrive in the coming years will be those who know their value and seek out employers who recognise it. Are you ready to take control?
Take the first step. Join other Australian workers building real salary transparency. Add your salary and see what’s been shared so far.
Curious about the ups and downs of pay transparency? Explore the pros and cons of being open about pay at work.
Want to see how Australian workplaces apply pay transparency? Check out our guide to pay transparency in Australia.
Disclaimer:
The information in this blog is for general informational purposes only and reflects personal opinions. It is not intended as financial, legal, or professional advice. While we may refer to external sources, we do not guarantee their accuracy or completeness. Always do your own research or seek professional guidance before making decisions.