Neal Augenstein, wtop.com
WASHINGTON – It pays to be good-looking.
Research shows someone with above-average looks earns considerably more than an employee with a below-average appearance, according to Daniel Hamermesh, researcher and author of “Beauty Pays: Why Attractive People Are More Successful.”
Men’s looks matter more than women’s in terms of salary, he says, according to U.S. News & World Report. Unattractive people have a harder time breaking into certain occupations, including law and politics.
“Like any other skill that you don’t have, if you’re bad-looking, avoid the occupations where it matters,” Hamermesh says.
Other research shows attractiveness plays a role in selling real estate.
Good-looking agents sell properties at higher prices than less attractive agents, says Sean Salter, a professor of finance at Middle Tennessee State University, according to the same U.S. News report.
However, Salter found it takes attractive agents far longer to sell a house, perhaps because a higher asking price might require more time to find a suitable buyer.
“There’s a clear trade-off here,” says Salter.
Salter’s study also found good-looking agents take fewer listings and make fewer sales, which leads him to believe they’re using beauty as a crutch.
What do you think? Does having good looks produce a financial advantage?
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