What jobs don’t allow tattoos? Although tattoos are becoming more accepted, some employers still prohibit visible body art. Based on research into millions of vacancies, these are five careers where tattoos remain uncommon or restricted.
Want to read this article in Dutch? Click here.
What jobs don’t allow tattoos?
One finding stood out: tattoos were least accepted in professions that typically require a lower, or as we would say today, more practical level of education. Most of the vacancies with tattoo restrictions were advertised in North Holland (24.1%) and South Holland (23.4%). Together, however, these provinces account for 37.3% of all published vacancies, which partly explains the high numbers.
The researchers also looked beyond tattoo policies. They found that 1,120 job ads explicitly prohibited piercings. Other appearance requirements appeared as well, with gold teeth mentioned in 83% of those vacancies and fake nails in 14%.
When I look at the list of professions, I don’t always understand the ban on tattoos. Why shouldn’t a traffic controller be allowed to have one? You usually see this person from a distance and only for a short time, so a visible tattoo seems unlikely to affect the job.
The other professions on the list make a bit more sense to me, although I think it largely depends on the company. Hosts and waitstaff often represent a brand and interact directly with customers, so employers may want more control over their appearance. Cleaners and housekeepers are also visible, but usually work more in the background. Cleaning staff, for example, often work outside regular office hours, making a strict tattoo policy seem less obvious.
Want to read more about tattoos and the workplace?
Also check:
- Applying with tattoos: do employers judge you differently?
- How tattoos affect your professional appearance
- Disney employees can now have tattoos
Greetings,
Aileen
Last update: 07/06/2026
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Nice and interesting articles on this facebook page.
The first four are the most common for tattoos in other parts of the world.
I think a ban on tattoos anywhere is a violation of our freedom of expression. Personally I don’t have any and I don’t hate them but I think they just look messy but I have always said when asked about my daughters tattoos I don’t care for them but I love her so I don’t say anything. Tattoos are very popular with the current generation. It used to be only sailors or military had them but now young people use the open canvas of their bodies to tell their stories, I think that is pretty awesome
I think a ban is acceptable if you are the face of the company employing you and you have visible tattoos which cannot be hidden by clothing deemed acceptable by that same firm. I think getting a tattoo is something that should be thought very hard about as it will, like it or not, have repercussions. You are asking for comment by displaying them, in my humble opinion.
Interesting. My experience in the US is that while tattoos aren’t necessarily taboo, both in government and healthcare the presence of “visible” tattoos is often prohibited. Perhaps those are the last vestiges where you’re like to encounter “old school” mindsets (from both the service provider and customer aides) that might be easily offended, where cultural differences are more likely to be magnified? Certainly, I think it depends on an organization’s customer demographic how strict their anti-tattoo policy.
I agree, in the US, government, healthcare, and I’d add the finance industry as three that seem to be the most restrictive about appearance.
I’ve personally always agreed with the US Army’s policies on ink. As long as it cannot be seen in the dress uniform, it’s good to go. I’m no longer in the military, but even as a personal trainer, most of my colleagues have tattoos that are visible in workout attire. It really does depend on who’s making the policy.
I think tattoos are bad. Tattoos are permanent fixtures on your body. Tattoos are signs of low self esteem and/or in a gang culture. On tattoos’ popularity, western civilization is going down the tubes due to secularism, liberalism, and turning away from God and his commandments. Western Europe, unfortunately, will fall to evil Islam. Ironically, Muslims also dissaprove of tattoos.
I hope this is a joke. I have several tattoos and have no gang affiliation or self-esteem issues. I manage an Investment Services program for a credit union spanning across 11 branches over the state of Michigan. My tattoos do not effect my job. If anything it is a talking point. Just because I, or any other person has tattoos, does not allow you to assume anything about that persons state of mind or anything else for that matter. Please correct yourself when making such terrible accusations.
Tattoos on arms look terrible on weedy men with thin arms or overweight women with fat arms.
Why attract attention to your least attractive parts.
That’s my opinion.
Also I don’t expect to see them on professional people who I need to trust with my health, finance or piloting my passenger jet.
Also I would have a different opinion of politicians with love and hate tattoos across there fingers. I might not vote for them.
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Interesting read! It’s fascinating how perceptions around tattoos still vary so much depending on the profession. While social attitudes have definitely shifted, it’s clear that in some fields, especially those emphasizing formality or public trust, visible tattoos can still be a barrier. Hopefully, as professionalism becomes more inclusive, these norms will continue to evolve.
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