Why startups should show a salary range in every job posting

Most Indian job postings still say "competitive" or "as per industry standards". The companies that state a range fill roles faster. Here's why, and how.

What a stated range does

• More applications from the people you want. Senior candidates skip postings without a range because they assume it's below their number. Stating it brings them in.
• Fewer applications from people you can't afford. Self-selection happens before the screen, not after three rounds.
• Fewer dropped offers. Offers that fall through at the last minute are almost always about money that was never discussed.
• Faster closes. The salary conversation happens in the first call instead of the fifth.
• Trust. Candidates read a stated range as a signal that the company has a levelling framework and won't play games — which is true more often than not.

What a good range looks like

Narrow enough to be meaningful (the top no more than ~50–70% above the bottom), tied to a level, and honest about where most hires land. "₹25 L–₹35 L fixed, plus ESOPs" is useful. "₹10 L–₹60 L" is not.

Fixed, not CTC

State fixed pay. If you include variable or ESOPs, say so separately. Candidates have learned to discount CTC figures; a clean fixed number stands out.

Why this board requires it

Every featured listing here must state a salary range because that's what makes the board worth visiting for job seekers — and their attention is what you're paying for. The weekly hiring report publishes the share of open roles with a stated range and the median range, so the norm is visible.