How Much Do Tattoo Artists Make?
Starting a career as a professional and licensed tattoo artist can be pretty difficult. A lot is required in terms of education and practice, and the road to getting a license might not only be difficult, but it is also pretty expensive. However, building a client base and providing exceptional service can put any tattoo artist on the map, which usually means better pay and earnings. Once the income increases, the struggle to become a tattoo artist starts making sense.
If you’re interested in how much on average a tattoo artist makes just for the info, or you’re interested in the numbers because of a potential career change, you’re at the right place. In the following paragraphs, we’ll discuss the average income for tattoo artists in the past year, and see which states are the most lucrative for a tattooist. So, without further ado, let’s get started!
Tattoo Artists and Income
How Much Do Tattooists Earn Annually?
According to the ZipRecruiter‘s latest update, it is believed that tattoo artists in the United States have an annual income of $99,956. This means they earn on average $48.06 an hour, or $8,330 as a monthly salary.
Of course, this is just an average estimate. 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.
But, why do these numbers vary so much? Why is the discrepancy between low- and high-earning tattoo artists so significant?
The reason for this lies in factors like the state where the tattoo artists work, opportunities for economic or wage advancement, even how much people tip them after a completed tattoo work. Of course, there are things like the quality of work, reputation, location of the tattoo studio, the cost of owning the studio as well as the tools and equipment, and so much more.
