A job advert that says 'competitive salary' is withholding the single piece of information a candidate most needs. It is worth understanding why, because the reason changes whether the role is worth applying for.
Reason one: the range is wide
Some roles genuinely have a broad band because the employer will pay very differently for a candidate with one specific skill than for one without it. Publishing the top of the band attracts people who will be disappointed; publishing the bottom deters the person they actually want.
This is the most benign case, and it usually resolves quickly — an employer in this position will normally give you a range the moment you ask.
Reason two: the number is below market
The second case is simpler. The salary is uncompetitive and publishing it would cut the applicant pool sharply. The advert is buying itself a conversation in which the employer can sell the role before the number lands.
The tell is an advert heavy on culture, mission and progression language while being thin on responsibilities. Vague duties plus a hidden salary is a reliable pairing.
Reason three: internal politics
The third is that existing staff are underpaid relative to the market, and advertising the true rate for a new hire would cause a problem inside the building. This is more common than employers admit and often produces a real offer that is fine — while indicating something about how pay rises work once you are there.
The question that resolves it
Ask early, in writing, and phrase it as a range rather than a demand: 'Could you tell me the banding for this role before we go further?'
An employer in the first case answers within a day. An employer in the second deflects to a call. That response is itself the information.