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Article:

7 Ways Your Looks Affect Your Pay

It Might Not Be Fair, But the Way You Look Plays a Part in How Much You’re Paid

2. General Attractiveness

If people think you’re good-looking, they’ll pay you more money.

So says a Yale University study from Daniel Hamermesh, which finds employers pay a beauty premium to attractive employees. The beautiful workers earn an average of roughly 5 percent more, while unattractive employees can miss out on up to almost 9 percent, according to the study.

"Effects for men are at least as great as for women. Unattractive women have lower labor-force participation rates, and marry men with less human capital," the study concludes. 

 

  • Aaron Gouveia

    Aaron Gouveia has worked as the Content Manager of Salary.com since 2011. Prior to that, he was an award-winning journalist at several prominent New England newspapers. Read more...