- “Pretty privilege” is real, research confirms. Good-looking workers are taking home nearly $20,000 more than their less attractive peers. That’s nearly the same financial boost as securing a college degree—except this comes from genetics, not grit.
Research has confirmed what many workers have long suspected: It pays to be pretty.
In fact, fresh research from career experts StandOut CV has revealed the exact salary increase employees who are conventionally attractive can earn, compared to their average-looking peers—and it’s an eye-popping $19,945 more.
To put that into context, simply being good-looking can earn you almost as much as having a college degree.
Workers with a bachelor’s degree took home $21,200 more in after-tax income than high school graduates in 2023, separate data from College Board shows.
“We asked respondents to rate how conventionally attractive they are and compared this to how successful they are, to find out how far looks (or body confidence) really does impact your career,” researchers from the résumé-building platform wrote in the March 2025 report.
“Not only are attractive people treated preferentially, but those deemed less attractive are actively disfavored.”
What is pretty privilege?
Pretty privilege, as the name suggests, is the unspoken advantage that comes with being conventionally attractive.
People have long suspected that this phenomenon gives the aesthetically blessed a leg up in everything from job opportunities to social interactions—and StandOut CV research confirms as much.
But of course, workers didn’t need this study to know that they might be losing out on opportunities because of their looks.
Nearly all of the 1,000-plus Americans surveyed already believed that conventionally attractive people are more likely to be promoted, hired, or receive raises at work.
What’s more, those who rated themselves as unattractive were more likely to say their looks had impacted their career negatively; those who rated their looks as average were most likely to say their looks had no impact on their careers; and those who rated themselves as conventionally attractive were most likely to say their looks have benefited them professionally.
They’re perhaps not wrong. The research showed that attractive workers were more likely to climb the rankings into the C-suite—or that leaders have more inflated egos than the everyday worker.
Consistently, there was a correlation between power and perceived attractiveness.
While just three out of five entry-level employees rated themselves as attractive, nearly all CEOs in the survey scored themselves as a seven or above on a 10-point attractiveness scale.
Meanwhile, 71% of CEOs rate themselves as a solid nine or 10 out of 10—more than double the study average of 33%.
Putting effort into your appearance pays
Not everyone is born with the genetic jackpot, but when it comes to workplace success, putting in an effort doesn’t go unnoticed.
In fact, eight in 10 workers believe that investing in their appearance makes them seem more competent or professional—and just as many feel pressured to spend money on looking the part to keep up with colleagues.
The pressure doesn’t stop there. Over 60% of employees admit they’ve been told to dress or present themselves a certain way to meet their industry’s beauty standards. And while it may feel superficial, the payoff is real.
Workers who align their appearance with industry expectations tend to earn more than those who don’t. Those pulling in over $80,000 a year are the most likely to dress up for success, while employees earning six figures are twice as likely to spend over $300 a month on grooming and services to maintain their professional image.