Most artists make between $30K and $50K. Again, highly renowned and experienced artists will make more than this, with some of the most highly paid tattoo artists making upwards of $100K per year. When examining the salary and earning potential of a tattoo artist, a good place to start is the rates that artists and shops charge.
| State | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $94,850 | $45.60 |
| Arizona | $73,102 | $35.15 |
| Arkansas | $62,281 | $29.94 |
| California | $91,211 | $43.85 |
What is the average income of a tattoo artist?
“They are usually independent contractors, self-employed, or another type of employee classification…Most are either hourly, or charge by the piece.” Tattoo artists’ rates can vary widely, but can be around $150 per hour in smaller towns to $200 and up per hour in larger cities.
How much vacation does a tattoo artist usually get?
Usually, you’ll come back after the ink heals, which is around three weeks. However, in most cases a half sleeve tattoo can be completed in one session with a few short breaks in between.
How much "tip" do you give a tattoo artist?
- The tattoo shop is going to take a cut out of it just for having them sit there and work. ...
- Preparation. There’s a lot of time spent working on your tattoo that you don’t always see – stencils, drawings, alterations, research. ...
- Equipment. ...
- Tattoo artists are often independent contractors, so things like insurance, leave, licensing etc… is on them. ...
What are the skills needed to become a tattoo artist?
What Kind of Skills Do You Need to Be a Tattoo Artist?
- Artistic Skills. If you have artistic talent, you have the beginnings of what it takes to make it as a tattooist. ...
- Health Skills. The safety of customers is paramount for any tattoo shop, and so requirements for a tattoo artist include skills and knowledge in the essentials of health and hygiene.
- People Skills. ...
- Concentration Skills. ...
Can tattoo artists make good money?
Some tattoo artists can earn as much as $300,000, while others earn as low as $12,000. To be more specific, currently, the highest-earning tattoo artists make annually around $260,000, while the lowest-earning tattooist in 2021 earns approximately $39,000.
How much money can a beginner tattoo artist make?
Your business could skyrocket overnight if your work speaks for itself. That said, once you become an experienced artist, you can expect to make between $30,000 to $50,000 per year. If you have a long waitlist or extremely sought-after designs, you could charge anywhere from $50-$200 per hour.
Can you make a living doing tattoos?
Tattoo artists can make good money because they do everything from infinity symbols on fingers to stunning full body designs. Gifted artistry, steady hands and raw courage are required when skin is your canvas. Famous body artists can earn up to $500 per hour, or more.
Is owning a tattoo shop profitable?
Tattoo Parlor Startup Costs The business is easy to enter and can be lucrative. One can get started for about $27,000. After a few years of establishing their clientele and honing their craft, most tattoo artists earn $50,000/year and shops have an average profit margin of 55% after expenses.
How much do tattoo artists make?
Tattoo artists in the United States make an average salary of $61,670 per year or $29.65 per hour. In terms of salary range, an entry level tattoo artist salary is roughly $26,000 a year, while the top 10% makes $144,000. If you like following the crowd, hospitality and retail companies tend to attract the most workers in this field. But if you're in it for the money, then you'll want to seek out retail, government, and hospitality companies, as employees in each industry have reported the highest salaries. As most things go, location can be critical. Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Delaware, and New Hampshire provide the highest tattoo artist salaries.
How Much Do Tattoo Artists Make In Different Industries?
In fact, tattoo artists can make a yearly salary of $58,166 while working for retail companies.
What is a tattoo artist?
A tattoo artist is a professional artist who makes permanent modifications to others' bodies by injecting ink into their skin to draw images. These artists typically draw their designs digitally or physically and overlay their images onto their clients' skin with a stamp, though some artists perform freehand drawing in their work.
Why do tattoo studios vet?
Vetting: One benefit of working in a tattoo studio as an employee or independent contractor is that more experienced artists can vet your work and abilities. This can help you gain trust from clients as a newer artist.
What factors contribute to tattoo prices?
Several factors can contribute to the pricing and rates for tattoo artists, such as the cost of equipment and their overhead fees like rent and utilities, if they're self-employed . Tattoo artists who work in a studio may also have to pay fees to the shop. Here are the basic factors that contribute to tattoo pricing:
How much does a tattoo artist make?
According to Indeed Salaries, the average base salary for a tattoo artist is $64,245 per year. Tattoo artists' pay can vary depending on skill level, experience and location.
Do tattoo artists get health insurance?
Some tattoo artists may receive health benefits if they work in a shop, but many are independent contractors who buy their own health insurance. Artists in tattoo shops who work as independent contractors work on a set schedule and can have less flexibility with vacation time than self-employed tattoo artists.
Can self employed tattoo artists have flexibility?
Flexible schedule opportunities: Along with the ability to set their own pricing, self-employed tattoo artists can also have greater control over their schedules, allowing for more flexibility.
Can tattoo artists be self employed?
Tattoo artists with more experience can be self-employed. Here are a few of the benefits of working as an independent artist:
What Factors Determine a Tattoo Artist’s Salary?
Now, above I have mentioned these are the average figures for yearly tattoo artists earnings but it can differ between individuals within the tattoo industry.
How does LA Ink work?
It works almost like a snowball effect, if you get one or two famous clients then they’ll share your tattoos on social media and hence draw in more clients to your studios. You can even start your own show like ‘LA Ink’ by Kat Von D which will massively build your reputation and clients.
How much do tattoo artists make?
That being said, if you have the skill and willingness to put in the work you can be earning a decent income and do a job that is extremely rewarding–plus keep in mind average tattoo artists earn around 30-50k a year !
Why is being popular important for tattoo artists?
If your tattoos are not popular then you won’t be earning much, being popular is the key to becoming a successful tattooist. A popular tattoo artist ensure s that you have a steady stream of customers.
How does a tattoo artist's income increase?
Once you’ve got popularity in the bag then a tattoo artist’s income will really begin to increase (so will the clientele). If clients are fighting to get to the chair and get tattooed by you then you can also begin to charge a higher commission rate too!
What is the key to success for tattoo artists?
Referrals, recommendations, and good reviews from people are the key to the success of tattoo artists. It is the foundation of building up your brand and the popularity of your work.
Why do people pay for tattoos?
Clients aren’t paying you for labor or to have a botched tattoo, they’re paying you because they like your art and they like the quality of your work.
How Much Money Do Tattoo Artists Make?
In truth, tattoo artists’ wages and salaries can vary greatly from person to person. Artists on the low-end might make $15 an hour or around $25,000 a year. Artists on the high-end can make as much as $500 an hour and millions of dollars a year.
How to Become a Tattoo Artist
Now, you might be wondering how to become a tattoo artist. There is no set way to get into the industry. However, some avenues are more common than others; we’ll discuss the three most common avenues below.
Looking for Similar Info?
Now that you know the answer to “how much money do tattoo artists make?”, you might be on the search for similar info. If so, you’re in the right place. Our website is loaded with information of all kinds.