What Do Recruiters Mean by “Competitive Salary”?

Whenever I see “competitive salary” in a job post, I can’t help but wonder what does that really mean? My mind goes to a price like 300k upwards regardless of the industry.

In most cases, it’s a way of saying, “We’ll pay around what others in this industry are paying maybe more if you’re really good.” Basically, the salary isn’t fixed yet, and they want to see what kind of candidates apply first.

Sometimes, though, it’s just a polite way to avoid stating the actual figure upfront, to which I still think stating it upfront is the best, so everyone can know where they are heading to. While it sounds nice, it’s always smart to ask about the salary range early on. That way, you know if it’s truly “competitive” or just “open for negotiation.”