At resume.io, we analysed 20,447 job adverts for the top 50 most in-demand and desired roles to find out which dream jobs are the most, and least, secretive about pay.
Our research reveals a surprising lack of transparency: on average, just two out of five (39.22%) job ads include salary information. Here’s what that means for your job search, and which roles are the most open (and closed) about pay.
Why salary transparency could make or break your job search
Imagine investing hours into perfecting your CV, nailing the interview, and getting your hopes up, only to discover the salary doesn’t meet your expectations. For millions of job seekers, this is a frustrating reality.
In fact, previous research has shown that 78% of job seekers are less likely to apply for a job if the advert does not specify a salary.
The top 10 dream jobs that are most secretive about their salary
After analysing over 20,000 job advertisements, we’ve uncovered the top ten dream jobs where salary details are most likely to be missing from job adverts. These are the roles where job seekers face the most uncertainty, and where asking about pay is more important than ever.
What the data shows
The numbers in this table are eye-opening. Game developers, for example, are left guessing about pay in more than 80% of job ads, despite the average salary being a substantial £55,000. For orthodontists, the average salary is a remarkable £75,862, yet only a quarter of job ads are upfront about pay.
HR professionals and economists fare only slightly better, with less than a quarter of roles advertising salary up front, even though these jobs typically offer £32,512 and £47,456 respectively.
The trend continues across a range of industries, from healthcare (orthodontists) and aviation (pilots, averaging £38,490) to science (marine biologists, £45,000) and the arts (publishing, £33,705; graphic design, £27,500; journalism, £32,000), even in architecture, where the average salary is a competitive £65,000, fewer than 28% of job ads are transparent about pay.
This lack of salary information makes it harder for candidates to compare offers, negotiate confidently, or even decide whether to apply. For creative and scientific roles in particular, wide pay ranges and negotiation culture may play a part, but for job seekers, the result is the same: more uncertainty and more risk of being undervalued.
What job seekers can do
If you’re targeting one of these roles, it’s essential to be proactive. Don’t hesitate to ask about salary early in the process. Knowing your worth is the first step to making your dream job a reality.
Simon Bocca, founder and CEO of payroll software, PayCaptain, confirms this. He shared his top tips:
- “Ask directly for the salary range early in the process. It’s a fair and important question. A refusal to answer or vague responses can be a red flag about workplace culture.”
- “Research comparable roles using salary benchmarks (like Glassdoor, Payscale, or industry reports) to establish a fair expectation.”
- “Connect with peers or networks - career communities or informal groups often share salary info to help each other navigate these opaque systems.
- If comfortable, state your salary expectations up front, which can set a precedent for open conversation and avoid wasted time on roles that underpay.”
The top 10 dream jobs leading the way in salary transparency
On the other hand, some industries are setting a new standard for openness. If you’re looking for clarity and confidence in your job search, roles in education, healthcare, public service, and customer-facing sectors stand out for their transparency. These fields often operate with established pay scales or regulatory requirements, making it much easier for candidates to know what to expect from the outset.
Below are the ten dream jobs where salary information is most likely to be included in job adverts. For job seekers, these roles offer a rare advantage: the ability to compare opportunities and negotiate with confidence, right from the start.
The difference in transparency is striking. Nearly 8 in 10 teacher job ads (78.39%) include salary details, giving candidates a clear picture that the average teacher salary is around £34,616.
Estate agents and delivery drivers also benefit from high pay disclosure rates - over two-thirds of job adverts reveal salaries averaging £30,000 and £25,011 respectively.
Healthcare roles such as veterinarians and optometrists follow closely, with salary transparency rates above 60%. These professions offer attractive average salaries of £31,441 and £52,121, reflecting the specialised skills required.
Similarly, social workers and police officers, with average salaries of £38,013 and £28,463, benefit from more than half of the job ads including pay information.
How salary transparency impacts inequality and builds trust
Simon Bocca said, “Salary transparency is vital for closing the gender pay gap. When salary bands are openly shared, in job ads, internally, or through reporting, it prevents employers from perpetuating pay disparities rooted in bias, discrimination, or outdated assumptions about a person’s worth in the workplace.
“Women, especially women of colour & disabled women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other marginalised groups, have historically been underpaid for equivalent work. Without transparency, these disparities stay hidden, making it harder for workers to advocate for fair compensation or to know they're being undervalued.
“Open pay policies also redistribute power, removing secrecy helps challenge the structures that have enabled unequal pay to persist. It fosters accountability, reduces wage exploitation, and can support a culture of trust and fairness in organisations.
“Salary transparency also minimises wasted time and effort within the hiring process, for both the Employer and the Candidate. It means financials are aligned from the start, and the only thing to focus on is the candidate's relevant skills and experience, not whether they can afford the candidate.”
Why do employers keep salary details under wraps?
If secretive salaries have so many negative outcomes, then why do certain employers do it? Simon explains that employers fear that disclosing a salary may:
- “Expose existing inequalities within their organisation.”
- “Prompt demands for fairer pay from current or prospective employees.”
- “Reduce their ability to lowball candidates, especially those less likely to negotiate due to societal conditioning (studies show women are less likely than men to negotiate salary offers, partly because of gendered backlash when they do).”
- “Encourage their competitors to poach their staff with larger salary packages.”
Making salary transparency work for you
At resume.io, we understand that knowing your worth is a key part of any successful job search. Salary transparency isn’t just about numbers, it’s about fairness, confidence, and making informed decisions that align with your career goals.
Our research shows a clear divide: while some industries lead the way in openness, many dream jobs still keep pay details hidden. This leaves job seekers facing uncertainty and potential undervaluation.
That’s why it’s important to be proactive. Use the tips shared here to ask the right questions early, research salary benchmarks, and connect with your professional networks. And when you’re ready to take the next step, having a well-crafted CV and cover letter can make all the difference in standing out and negotiating with confidence.
Useful resources to support your search
If you’re looking to refresh your application, explore our CV templates and cover letter examples for inspiration. For more guidance on salary negotiation and job search strategies, don’t miss our career blog.
Methodology
To identify which dream jobs are most and least transparent about pay, we followed a multi-step research process:
- Selection of roles: We compiled a list of 50 in-demand or “dream” jobs by reviewing the first 10 articles ranking for relevant keywords in Google search results.
- Job advert analysis: Using LinkedIn, we searched for these 50 roles and analysed a total of 20,447 UK job adverts. For each job, we recorded whether the advert included salary information.
- Salary data: Where salary figures were referenced or required for context, we used data from uk.talent.com to ensure consistency and accuracy.
- Calculating transparency: For each role, we calculated the percentage of job adverts that included salary details, allowing us to compare transparency across different professions.
This methodology enabled us to uncover which roles are most likely to disclose pay up front, offering valuable insights for job seekers navigating the UK job market.
