Job posting templates · laws reviewed October 2026
Software Engineer job description template with salary range
A posting-ready template with the sections pay-transparency laws look for. Replace the bracketed parts, then check the finished posting below before you publish.
Software Engineer Location: [City, State] (on-site / hybrid / remote in [states]) About the role You'll design, build and ship features across our product, working closely with product and design. What you'll do • Build and maintain services and user-facing features • Review code and help raise the quality bar for the team • Debug production issues and improve reliability • Work with product and design to scope and ship work What you'll bring • Professional experience building production software • Comfort with at least one modern language and framework • Clear written communication Compensation Pay: $[MIN]–$[MAX] per year, based on experience and skills. This role is eligible for equity, granted at hire and vesting over four years. Benefits • Medical, dental and vision insurance • [Retirement plan and employer match] • [Number] days of paid time off, plus paid holidays • [Other benefits: parental leave, learning budget, etc.] [Company] is an equal opportunity employer.
What makes this posting compliant
- A specific pay range. 15 states currently require a salary or wage range in job postings: California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Virginia and Washington. Use the minimum and maximum you genuinely expect to pay.
- Variable pay, described. Several laws also ask for a general description of bonuses, commissions or other compensation. The template includes a line for it.
- Benefits. Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey and Washington also require a general description of benefits. The benefits block covers that; list what you actually offer.
- Where the job is done.Which law applies depends on where the role can be performed. For remote roles, name the states you’ll hire in, because each one’s law can apply.
Common mistake for this role: Engineering postings often say “competitive salary + equity”. Equity can be described, but it doesn't replace the base pay range that posting laws require.
Thresholds, cities and effective dates differ by state; see every state that requires salary ranges or format a range with the pay range builder.