In many ways a job interview is like a first date. Both sides are trying to get to know the other, but some questions are off limits even though one side or the other may really want to know the information. With dating sometimes it's a matter of being impolite or too personal for an initial meeting. For example, you may want to know where your date stands on various hot button political issues or whether he or she has a family history of mental health issues, but those topics are best left for when you know each other better. On a job interview there are a number of areas where employers legally can't make inquiries. These vary based on where you are, but things like marital status or whether you have kids, as well as religion or political party affiliation generally can't be asked. There's one question however which, while no longer legal in a handful of states and cities, remains something candidates get asked in many interviews. It's kind of a no-win position for the person being interviewed because revealing the information gives the employer leverage and it could cost the job-seeker money. For those, and other reasons, over half of Americans (53%) don't want employers to ask them how much money they make, according to a new survey from Glassdoor. The survey, which was conducted online by Harris Poll, involved 2,224 adults ages 18 and older. There is a salary gap between men and women. Image source: Getty Images. Don't ask, do tell More women than men believe that past or present salary information should be off limits during interviews. Only 48% of men were against salary history questions being asked, according to Glassdoor while 60% of women felt the topic was inappropriate. Women on average in the United States earn about $0.76 for every $1 men earn on an unadjusted basis, according to Glassdoor Economic Research. This pay gap may be in part because 68% of women do not negotiate pay, according to a separate Glassdoor report while only 52% of men fail to do that. "The time of looking backward to go forward to determine pay is over. Asking prior salary history questions can trigger unintended consequences and introduce bias into the hiring process that disadvantages women from day one," said Glassdoor's Senior Vice President Dawn Lyon. "We need to reframe the conversation to pay expectations around the value of the job and the skills and relevant experience required to do it." But, while the majority of Americans don't want to be asked how much money they made in the past, 98% of U.S. workers would like to see pay ranges included in job listings, according to Glassdoor. In addition "95% say it is important to be thoughtful and informed about a company's pay philosophy (e.g., how pay and pay increases are determined) prior to accepting a job offer." Employers should take note of that because 72% of U.S. workers say the salary and the overall compensation package is a top factor when it comes to taking or declining a job offer. Making that information, or at least a salary range, available in job listings can save both the company and potential employees a lot of time. Why do companies want to know what you make? Imagine your current job pays $50,000 a year. Now imagine that a potential future employer that knows your current salary and is hiring for a job where it was prepared to pay $75,000; the company has extra leverage. Because it knows your previous salary it could for example, offer your $60,000 -- still a nice raise -- but less than the company previously had deemed the job being worth. Lyon believes that job seekers in markets where it's still legal to ask about salary history must go into job interviews well prepared to deflect the question. It's not about being obstinate, but about trying to get an offer that's appropriate for the position, not one based on what you make now. "Candidates can help change the conversation by offering answers that address their pay expectations based on the role and their current market value, while also taking into account how the company structures its overall pay and benefits package," she said. Websites like Glassdoor make it possible for both candidates and employers to understand the general market for various jobs. That information should in theory make past salary less relevant as a new job's compensation should be decided based on the job itself and the candidate's level of experience. The fact that someone was underpaid (or even overpaid) on a previous job should ideally not factor into the offer though of course in many cases it still does. That does appear to be slowly changing, and job seekers can help make that happen by being well-informed and armed with data when it comes time to talk salary and compensation. The $16,122 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook If you're like most Americans, you're a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known "Social Security secrets" could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. For example: one easy trick could pay you as much as $16,122 more... each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we're all after. Simply click here to discover how to learn more about these strategies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.