Does a tattoo affect your career?

Author: Kari Adams  |  Last update: Saturday, April 12, 2025

A Tattoo Won't Hurt Your Job Prospects. Michael T. French of the University of Miami and colleagues surveyed more than 2,000 people in the United States and found that those with tattoos were no less likely to be employed than their uninked counterparts, and that average earnings were the same for both groups.

Does having a tattoo affect getting a job?

While visible tattoos can lead to bias in hiring, many jurisdictions have laws against discrimination based on appearance. However, enforcement can vary. While visible tattoos can influence job opportunities, the impact is highly context-dependent.

Do tattoos affect acting careers?

Yes, an up-and-coming actor could potentially not get cast in a role due to tattoos, depending on several factors: Character Requirements: If the character is intended to have a specific look that doesn't include visible tattoos, the casting directors may prefer actors without them.

Will jobs not hire you if you have a hand tattoo?

Absolutely. An employer has to protect their image and if they think a tattoo harms their image, or if they just don't like tattoos, they can refuse to hire you.

Can I be denied a job because of tattoos?

Currently, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects employees and job applicants from employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin, but does not yet prohibit discrimination based on tattoos or other forms of body art.

The TRUTH About Tattoos and Employment | Do Tattoos Stop You from Getting a Job?

What jobs prohibit tattoos?

Here's a short list of some of the most common employers that either don't allow tattoos or ask you to cover them up at work:
  • Healthcare Professionals. ...
  • Police Officers and Law Enforcement. ...
  • Law Firms. ...
  • Administrative Assistants and Receptionists. ...
  • Financial Institutions and Banks. ...
  • Teachers. ...
  • Hotels / Resorts. ...
  • Government.

Can you lose a job because of a tattoo?

Can I Be Fired for Having a Tattoo? An employer is generally free to maintain a policy prohibiting employees from displaying tattoos at work. That means in most circumstances, your employer can discipline or even fire you for displaying a tattoo.

Will a hand tattoo affect my future career?

When it comes to searching for a job, many people think tattoos are now widely accepted. There's no way a company wouldn't hire you just because you have a tattoo! While tattoos are certainly more commonplace than ever before, there are still a few careers with tight restrictions when it comes to tattoos.

Can I not get a job if I have a tattoo?

Tattoos are generally accepted in the workplace as long as they're not offensive, unprofessional or distracting. However, visible tattoos may not be appropriate for every profession. Even if your company allows body art, you may find that customers or coworkers discriminate against tattooed employees.

Why are tattoos considered unprofessional?

Problematic tattoos can be revealing about a person's character. They show employers what values or beliefs they might bring to a workplace. On the other hand, if tattoos have nudity or imagery that may be considered inappropriate for certain audiences, the tattoo can easily be covered up with clothing or makeup.

Did Pete Davidson remove tattoos?

Pete Davidson burned off all his tattoos: details

"I've been burning them off," Davidson told Fallon about his tattoo removal process. "They're almost gone." "Is it painful?" Fallon asked. "It's horrible," Davidson said with a laugh.

What tattoos does Brad Pitt have?

In recent years, Pitt's tattoos have been photographed, including the silhouette of a mummy on his forearm. On his other arm, he has one of his most personal tattoos, a vertical line intersecting with a horizontal one. On one side, he has the letter "A" tattooed, which represents Angelina Jolie.

Can models have tattoos?

The good news is that tattoos are becoming more and more commonplace in the modelling industry. In the past, finding a high-profile model with tattoos was very rare, but these days, many huge names are showing off their incredible body art.

Are there CEOs with tattoos?

In fact, CEO Varun Krishna, who took the top job seven months ago at Rocket, said in a statement to Fortune that he appreciates how the company's culture embraces people's individuality—especially given that Krishna has a few tattoos himself.

What is the disadvantage of tattoos?

A skin infection is possible after getting a tattoo. An infection might be due to contaminated ink or equipment that isn't sterilized correctly. Getting a tattoo at a studio that doesn't follow good safety steps also can raise your risk of a skin infection.

Can I be a lawyer with tattoos?

Lawyers are not, say, lifeguards. They don't expose a lot of skin. And just about all of the advice we saw on the internet said lawyers can definitely rock a tat — just make sure it's not exposed.

Can you not be hired because of tattoos?

Yes, California employers can ask employees to cover tattoos and piercings. Employers can even refuse to hire potential employees with tattoos or piercings.

Can you donate blood with tattoos?

Most people with tattoos can donate blood as long as they don't have risk factors that prohibit or limit blood donation, and if they got a tattoo at a state regulated facility. In the U.S. you have to wait 3 months to donate if the tattoo was from a state that does not regulate tattoo facilities.

Are tattoos career limiting?

A Tattoo Won't Hurt Your Job Prospects. Michael T. French of the University of Miami and colleagues surveyed more than 2,000 people in the United States and found that those with tattoos were no less likely to be employed than their uninked counterparts, and that average earnings were the same for both groups.

Can you have tattoos in finance?

2 – Finance and banking

A banker must maintain a crisp look, with unblemished skin to face clients properly. Although a tattoo never impedes your function and capability to do your job well, having a tattoo is still highly discouraged.

Is it hard to get a job with arm tattoos?

For instance, some companies may allow visible tattoos as long as there is no profane language or graphic imagery. Some organizations may allow tattoos on certain parts of the body, like arms and legs, but not on other parts, like the neck or hands. Other companies might strictly forbid visible tattoos altogether.

How many people get denied jobs because of tattoos?

However, 73% of people say they would hire staff that had visible tattoos. 6% of tattooed people say they wouldn't hire someone with visible ink. Only 4% of tattooed or pierced people say they've actually faced discrimination in their current job.

Why do tattoos have a bad reputation?

Often, people who have tattoos get a bad reputation due to the correlations between tattoos and gang activity in the past. Today, they are more accepted and less associated with gangs, but they are still considered taboo if you don't follow the unspoken “guideline” that tattoos must be meaningful.

Can you work in government with tattoos?

Jewelry and Piercing Guidelines: All employees may only wear jewelry that does not interfere with the proper use of equipment, does not pose a safety hazard to the wearer, and is professional. Tattoos/Body Art/Branding: Tattoos, brands, and body markings are prohibited on the head, face, neck, tongue, lips, and scalp.

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