The push for greater financial transparency has entered another realm: that of the jobseeker. And compared to hospital pricing transparency, this one may be far more difficult to penetrate.

A new study by job search engine provider Adzuna finds that an increasing number of jobseekers want to know the salary attached to the job before they apply for it.

Why is that a big deal? Adzuna says its research since 2017 reveals that 54% of jobseekers turned down a job offer when they learned what the pay would be. And that represented about 480 million hours of wasted time on the part of those folks. Not to mention the wasted time on the part of those dangling the salary-less positions that went unfilled.

But bringing more transparency to job offer salaries won't be easy. Adzuna says just 3% of U.S. job ads include a salary. The list of major employers that fail the salary transparency test is wide and deep, including the likes of Amazon, Applebee's, Deloitte, PwC, Shell, Safeway, Walgreens, Walmart, Pizza Hut, UPS, and Target.

Curious to see what jobseekers valued, or didn't value, about the job search process, Adzuna conducted an online survey of 2,000 folks who looked for a job recently. In addition to learning that more than half had turned down a job offer once they heard the salary, Adzuna's respondents also delivered this information:

• 28% of people feel no salary or a lack of salary clarity on job ads is their biggest frustration when looking for a job.
• 33% of jobseekers would not attend a job interview before knowing the salary the employer is willing to offer.
• 86% of U.S. employees would be open for their colleagues to know how much they earn
• 73% think employers making salaries more transparent would make the workplace more fair.

Adzuna asked about the pain points of job application, and this is what came back:

1. Getting turned down because of not having enough experience despite the employer already looking at the CV (29%).
2. Lack of clarity on salary, or very large salary ranges (28%).
3. Interview process dragging out over multiple weeks or even months (28%).
4. Getting turned down because of being overqualified for a role despite the employer already looking at the CV (27%).
5. Not hearing back/not receiving a reply after applying (27%).
6. Needing to update their resume for every application (27%).
7. Learning the employer was not being totally transparent about the role/company after reading reviews online (26%).
8. Too many stages to the interview process (26%).
9. Realizing mid-interview that this isn't the job for you (25%).
10. Being asked inappropriate or offensive interview questions (25%).

Read more: Employers, prepare for wage transparency laws

The survey offered up a passel of nuggets, among them that salary transparency is highest in Washington, D.C. (19% of job ads including salary), followed by New York at 6% and California at 5%. Charitable organizations report the highest score for transparency at 10%; retail (0.5%) and travel (1%) were the least transparent.