 Potential employers are also not allowed to try to find out what a person applying for the job has been paid in the past or to use that information as part of the hiring process. That means they're not allowed to figure out what you settled for before. It's not just about how much money you've made. It's about other compensation. I haven't seen the guidance yet, but it's pretty thorough protection that could mean that an employer can't ask about your past health care plan or your 401k either.