Have you ever gone through three job interviews and still not known the salary? In the European Union, that is starting to change. On June 5, 2026, the European Commission said new pay transparency rules are now taking effect, after the June 7, 2026 deadline for EU countries to put the directive into national law. (commission.europa.eu)

Imagine Mika applying for a job in Berlin. She likes the company. She updates her CV. She practices her answers. But this time, something is different. Before the interview, or even in the job ad, the employer must tell her the starting salary or the pay range. The employer also cannot ask Mika about her salary history. (commission.europa.eu)

That sounds small, but it can change a lot. Mika can decide early: Is this job right for me? Is the pay fair? She does not need to spend hours on tests and interviews, then learn at the end that the pay is much lower than she hoped. The new rules are also about equal pay for women and men. Workers can ask for their own pay level and the average pay for people doing the same job, or work of equal value, broken down by sex. (commission.europa.eu)

And there is a reason for this change. Eurostat says that in 2024, women in the EU earned 11.1% less per hour on average than men. Employers with at least 100 workers must also report pay-gap information, with the biggest companies reporting first from June 7, 2027. (ec.europa.eu)

So, can you know the salary before the interview? In the EU, the new rule says yes. And sometimes one clear number can save time, protect dignity, and begin a fairer conversation.