Tattoo artists can earn anywhere from $30,000 to $100,000+ per year, depending on talent, experience, and the willingness to work long hours. Other factors also come into play when weighing up the pros and cons of entering the growing tattoo industry... 

Getting paid for your art is difficult: notoriously difficult in fact. The concept of the “starving artist” plays a key role in cultural perception of those choosing to pursue their creative passions. It is surprising at times that anyone attempts to become a professional artist at all.

For those with a natural penchant for pen and ink however, there is a better option. With the continued boom in the tattoo industry, many creative individuals are choosing to take up tattooing as an art form, passion, and income stream.  

The following piece examines a variety of important considerations for artists interested in transitioning to the popular and exciting medium of tattoo art and application.  

Average Yearly Income 

There are a variety of factors that determine how much a tattoo artist can make, most notably experience and skill. Another key factor determining an artist’s annual salary is the location, with more business generally being clustered around densely populated metropolitan areas, although in the age of the internet this doesn’t hold quite as much weight as it once did. 

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. 

Rates: Minimum, Hourly, and per Piece Pricing 

When examining the salary and earning potential of a tattoo artist, a good place to start is the rates that artists and shops charge. At the heart of this price is the experience of an artist. In the United States the average shop rates in major cities is around $150 per hour. Remember this is an average taking into account the entire spectrum of artists: an apprentice may charge $50 USD while someone with 20 years of experience may charge $300 per hour.