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Taller Workers Top Pay Ladder

Extra 4 inches adds 2%-3% in hourly wages for women and men, Aussie study says

By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff

Posted May 17, 2009 7:52 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Taller workers have a leg up when it comes to paychecks, AFP reports. An Australian study has found that every additional 4 inches of height adds 3% to a man's hourly wage and 2% to a woman's. Five inches of extra height earns a man the salary of a worker with an extra year's experience. Surprisingly, the survey of more than 20,000 Australians found that obese employees fared no worse in wages.

"We were surprised to find that there seemed to be no wage penalty to being overweight or obese in the Australian labour market," one researcher said. "This is in contrast with previous studies that used older data from the United States and Germany." Perhaps, he said, fat Aussies faced to workplace discrimination because they are now in the majority.

Zhao Liang, 2.46-meter-tall, stretches out his arms as hospital staff members use a tape to measure him in Tianjin, northern China.
Zhao Liang, 2.46-meter-tall, stretches out his arms as hospital staff members use a tape to measure him in Tianjin, northern China.   (AP Photo)
World's tallest man Bao Xishun arrives at a press conference on July 13, 2007 in Baotou of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, northern China.
World's tallest man Bao Xishun arrives at a press conference on July 13, 2007 in Baotou of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, northern China.   (Getty Images)
The world's tallest man Bao Xishun poses for a photo with his bride Xia Shujuan at home on March 31, 2007 in Chifeng of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China.
The world's tallest man Bao Xishun poses for a photo with his bride Xia Shujuan at home on March 31, 2007 in Chifeng of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China.   (Getty Images)
Zhao Liang, 2.46-meter-tall, poses with a Chinese woman at a hospital where he visited for foot surgery Tianjin, northern China.
Zhao Liang, 2.46-meter-tall, poses with a Chinese woman at a hospital where he visited for foot surgery Tianjin, northern China.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
Jes
May 18, 2009 1:59 AM CDT
In what fields, though? Is this across the board, or it just an average figuring in things like sports where physical advantages are financially compensated?
paul123
May 18, 2009 1:15 AM CDT
so buy elevater shoes and ask for a raise.

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