Updated October 2026.
The short answer: If you leave pay off a job ad, Indeed adds its own salary estimate. Indeed builds it from the job title, location, experience and education asked for, and the pay of similar jobs. It labels it as an estimate and says the employer did not list pay. You can’t hide the estimate. The only way to replace it is to add your own pay range to the job. In a growing number of states, listing a pay range is also the law.
How Indeed salary estimates work
Indeed wants every job to show pay, because pay is one of the first things candidates look for. Candidates can filter jobs by pay, and pay shows in search results, on the job post and on company pages.
When you list pay, Indeed shows your numbers. When you don’t, Indeed fills the gap with an estimate. It looks at the details of your job (title, location, experience and education needed) and compares it to pay that other employers and job seekers have shared for similar jobs. Indeed updates these estimates often.
Candidates see the estimate in two places: on the job preview in search results, and in the pay section of the job post, with a note that the employer did not provide a salary.
Are Indeed salary estimates accurate?
Sometimes. The estimate is only as good as the jobs Indeed compares yours to. It tends to be close for common jobs with steady hourly pay in big markets. It’s more often off when:
- The job pays commission or bonuses. Insurance producers, car sales consultants and F&I managers earn very different amounts depending on results. A single estimate can’t show that.
- The job is specialized. Titles like “Licensed CSR” or “Service Advisor” mean different things at different businesses, so Indeed may compare your job to the wrong ones.
- You’re in a small town. Fewer local jobs means less data, so the estimate leans on other areas.
- Your title is unusual. A creative job title can match the wrong group of jobs.
An estimate that’s too low turns good candidates away. One that’s too high brings in people who drop out once they hear the real number. Either way, you lose time.
Can you remove or hide the salary on an Indeed job post?
Not really. If you leave pay blank, Indeed shows its estimate instead. To control what candidates see, add your own pay range. Indeed suggests keeping it simple: one range, per hour or per year, instead of several ranges in the same ad.
If you post through IdealTraits, here’s how to set your pay:
- Log in to IdealTraits and go to Jobs.
- Click the title of your job.
- Enter your pay range.
- Make sure “Choose not to disclose salary on job ad” is not checked. If it is, your range won’t show and Indeed will add its own estimate.
Salary transparency laws: which states require pay in job posts?
A growing list of states and cities require employers to list a pay range in job posts. These include Colorado, California, Washington, New York, Illinois, Minnesota, Maryland, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C., and more are added each year. Rules differ on company size, what counts as a range, and whether you must also list benefits or commission. Check your state’s rules, or ask your attorney, before you post.
About half of US job posts on Indeed now list pay, according to Indeed’s Hiring Lab. If yours doesn’t, candidates will compare your Indeed estimate to the real numbers from the business down the street.
Does listing pay help your job post?
Indeed doesn’t publish exactly how pay affects where a job shows up. What we do know: candidates filter by pay, pay shows right in the search results, and Indeed fills in a number when you don’t. Listing your own range means the number candidates see is yours, not a guess.
If your job posts aren’t getting the right applicants, pay is the first thing to check. The next is speed. Good candidates often take the first solid offer, so the employer who replies in hours usually beats the one who replies in days.
How to list pay for commission jobs
Commission jobs are where Indeed’s estimate is most often wrong, so they’re where your own numbers matter most. A simple approach:
- Put the base pay range in the pay field. For example, $40,000 to $50,000 a year. Many pay laws ask for the base range.
- Say what a typical first year looks like in the description. For example: “Most producers earn $55,000 to $70,000 in year one with commission.” Use real numbers from your own team.
- Explain how commission works in one or two sentences. New business, renewals, bonuses: whatever applies.
- If the job is commission only, say so. Some state laws require it, and it saves everyone time.
This works for insurance agencies (producers, sales reps) and car dealerships (sales consultants, F&I, service advisors) alike.
Post your job, with your pay, to Indeed and more from one place.
IdealTraits is an Indeed Platinum ATS Partner, 3 years running. Post free to Indeed, ZipRecruiter, LinkedIn and more, then sort applicants with pre-hire assessments and text them right away. 18,000+ businesses have used IdealTraits to hire.
Book a demo or see pricing (plans start at $149/mo, billed yearly).
What to do once the applicants come in
A clear pay range usually brings more applicants who fit. That’s good news, but only if you can sort them fast. With IdealTraits you can:
- Post to Indeed and other top job sites from one place, with your pay range on every post.
- Use pre-hire assessments to see who fits the job before you call.
- Text candidates the same day they apply, so you reach them before your competition does.
- Use one-way video interviews to skip the phone tag.
Texting, video interviews and unlimited users are included on every plan. See how it works for insurance agencies and car dealerships.
Quick answers
Why does my Indeed job show a salary I didn’t enter?
Because the pay field was blank, or the “don’t disclose” box was checked. Indeed added its own estimate. Add your pay range to replace it.
How does Indeed calculate salary estimates?
From your job’s title, location, experience and education requirements, compared to pay that employers and job seekers have shared for similar jobs.
Can I turn off Indeed’s salary estimate?
No. The only way to replace it is to list your own pay.
Should I list a range or one number?
Indeed suggests one simple range. Some state laws require a range.
Want to go deeper? Read So What’s the Deal with Salary Transparency? Current IdealTraits customers can also search “salary” in our Help Center or chat with our Client Success Team, Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM ET.