If you're looking for a new job online, there's nothing more frustrating than scrolling through countless advertisements and not seeing a salary range for the job you want to apply for. These days, employers are increasingly withholding the salary range, and applicants are finding it not only misleading but downright sneaky.

If you're working online, and from home, you'll know that things have become less transparent. We'll look at potential reasons why employers are avoiding the topic and what you can do about it.

1. Wages May Depend on the Location

For example, even though working from home has enabled people to work from anywhere, employers have utilized this benefit to hiring people locally and globally. As a result, they may be paying people based on the average wage of that particular job, in that particular location.

For example, some tech jobs could pay considerably lower in Europe than they do in the US. So, employers could be hiding the fact that they pay unequal wages by not specifying a salary in a global job advertisement.

2. Employers Don't Want Employees to Find Out

If you're working in an online industry that is constantly growing, you'll likely see job advertisements on your company website. If employees see jobs that fit their position and the salary listed is one that is higher than what they're getting paid, they will likely feel short-changed.

If a company wants to hire a new person, they may want to withhold salary information to avoid issues with existing employees.

3. Employers Might Want Talent From Competitors

If people are unhappy with their jobs, they are likely searching for new ones in the same industry. A company may deliberately refrain from posting a salary range to keep things competitive.

Employers based in tech capitals of the world are constantly searching for top talent. By not advertising the salary to potential applicants, they might want to keep things under the radar to create competition within the industry.

4. Salary Ranges Cause Disagreements

Applicants these days are more aware of the top skills people need to land a job. This is why they're also becoming more reluctant to apply for jobs that don't reveal a salary.

If an employer is not posting an exact salary for a job, but a range, the applicant might automatically assume that they will get the top of the range. If they don't get the top-of-the-range salary, the applicant and potential employer could face some disagreements.

5. Salaries Give Applicants More Negotiating Power

Many employers don't post salaries because they don't want to give potential employees negotiating power. If an applicant sees a salary posted, and they know there is room to negotiate, they might come to the interview and bring up reasons why they should get more money.

They may also use industry examples of similar companies that are willing to pay more for the same job. Many applicants these days use tools to estimate salaries online, and this gives them more negotiating power because they come prepared for an interview.

6. It's Not Always Necessary to Reveal the Salary

If a company has a history of getting top candidates to apply for work without having to post a salary, they will continue to do so. Not revealing a salary, or a wage range, allows companies to keep things flexible for themselves and gives them room to budget.

If not posting a salary has worked for them so far, many companies don't find it necessary to change things.

7. They Want People Who Are Driven by Passion

By not posting a salary, employers might be expecting people who are extremely passionate about a job, regardless of what it pays, to apply. For example, if you've always wanted a career in the publishing industry, which is rapidly evolving but still considered niche, publishing houses may be tempted to withhold wage information.

Ultimately, they know that they will get a lot of passionate graduates to apply anyway. They are aware that it is still a small industry that gets a lot of fresh and motivated applicants in, regardless of wage.

8. They Expect Candidates to Negotiate the Best Terms

If you're in an industry where you can work from home, chances are that you've already got a list of perks you would like to get from a potential employer to make things more comfortable for you. With online work models evolving, the way we view work is changing.

Many employees want a balanced working life. They want a range of benefits to come with their salary, and this may include things like; mental health days, electricity reimbursements, home-office furniture, insurance plans, childcare benefits, subscriptions, as well as access to home care services. Employers may already be expecting candidates to list their perks and negotiate their salaries.

9. Employers Think Company Perks Will Be Overlooked

For companies that pay lower salaries than the market average, they might offer various benefits for their employees to offset the low salaries. These perks may include a home-office budget, an education fund, retirement benefits, or even bonuses for when the company does well.

Most of the time, perks do not replace wages; they are extras. Some employers know this, which is why they opt for not listing the salary, but only to list the perks.

What Should Applicants Do if No Salary Is Listed?

If you're an applicant, and you keep wasting your time applying for jobs where no salary is listed, (then getting a nasty surprise at the online interview), you should be clear about what you want. Always be ready to negotiate by doing your research into industry wages.

See what other companies (who are listing their salaries) are paying, and think about whether you want to apply to a company that withholds that information. It's important to weigh up the amount of money you need to survive and your genuine interest in the job.