tattoo-artist

How to Become a

Tattoo Artist

The consummate career guide to be a Tattoo Artist: salary, job growth, employers, best schools, and pedagogy you may demand to go started.

Why We Love It

  • $62,130

    Potential Avg. Salary

  • Growing Demand

    Job Outlook

  • Creativity Focused

    Career Attribute

Tattoo artists utilize specialized tools to apply permanent designs to the pare using not-toxic ink. They may create tattoos of their ain blueprint or utilise tattoos in designs requested by clients. Tattoo artists may work in tattoo shops or own their own businesses. Tool sanitation and safety is of critical importance.

What is a Tattoo Artist?

The post-obit job responsibilities are mutual for individuals in tattoo artist roles:

  • Apply permanent ink to client skin in requested designs and patterns
  • Use a diversity of tools and techniques to utilise permanent designs
  • Create designs for clients or use designs selected or submitted by clients
  • Ensure proper sanitizing and intendance of tools to forestall the spread of affliction and infection
  • Educate clients on appropriate care of tattoos

A Twenty-four hour period in the Life

Tattoo artists are artists who utilize their designs to skin rather than other surfaces or materials. They use a specialized, non-toxic ink that creates permanent designs on client peel. To apply tattoos, tattoo artists must use a variety of tools. Additionally, they must ensure proper sanitation and care for tools to prevent the spread of disease and infection. Improperly sanitized, reusable tools can cause astringent health issues, so it's disquisitional that tattoo artists always follow standardized sanitation protocols.

Many tattoo artists spend fourth dimension creating their own designs. These designs are inserted into portfolios for clients to review when considering a new tattoo. Clients can cull tattoo designs from the tattoo artist'southward portfolio, can bring in their ain design, or can asking a custom pattern from the creative person. Many tattoo artists are trained every bit artists—either self-taught or in school—and use their training and talents to create special designs that meet client specifications.

Another important role of the tattoo artist is educating clients on tattoos. First, they must ensure clients sympathize that tattoos are permanent. Second, they must teach clients how to treat their tattoos, particularly in the weeks after application where the run a risk of infection is more than likely. Many tattoo artists likewise offer body piercing services and may exist trained every bit piercers. These tattoo artists install natural language, ear, eyebrow, nose, and other piercings for clients and teach clients how to care for new piercings.

Typical Work Schedule

There really is no typical piece of work schedule for tattoo artists. Some piece of work starting time-shift hours, some work 2nd-shift, and some may work third-shift. Jobs tin be either full-fourth dimension or part-time depending on the employer and tattoo creative person's preferences. Evening and weekend work is common as those tend to be the busiest times for tattoo shops.

Typical Employers

Many tattoo artists are self-employed and own their ain shops, share ownership of a shop with one or more other tattoo artists, or rent a booth in an established tattoo shop. Others work for tattoo chains or shops owned by other tattoo artists or business people.

How To Get a Tattoo Artist

No formal higher educational activity is required in order to work as a tattoo artist. Instead, near tattoo artists learn the trade through apprenticeships. Apprenticeships are usually one- or two-year paid study programs under an experienced tattoo creative person where apprentices learn how to apply tattoos, how to use tools, and how to ensure proper care for and sanitation of tattoo application tools. In some states and localities, apprentices must obtain an amateur license to assist tattoo artists in their shops.

Formal requirements for tattoo artists are determined by state or local governments. Some states enforce strict guidelines as to the qualifications a tattoo creative person must have in gild to apply tattoos on clients in the state. Other states go out the requirements decision up to local governments. Even in states with loose regulations, obtaining the proper licensure or certification can be benign for tattoo artists considering it inspires confidence in their abilities and prophylactic amongst potential clients.

Because tattoo artists are in artistic positions, many find that a certificate or degree with a focus on art to be benign. Some pursue available of fine arts degrees where they learn to perfect their craft, focusing on cartoon and related areas. Considering tattoos are permanent, low-quality work can exist detrimental to a tattoo creative person's career. With a thorough education in art, aspiring tattoo artists are better prepared to apply tattoos that meet client specifications perfectly and result in increased business.

Tattoo Artist Salary Data

We've provided you the following to learn more than near this career. The salary and growth data on this page comes from recently published Bureau of Labor Statistics data while the recommendations and editorial content are based on our inquiry.

National Anual Bacon

National Hourly Wage

How do Tattoo Artist salaries stack up to other jobs across the country? Based on the latest jobs information nationwide, Tattoo Creative person'southward can make an average annual salary of $62,130, or $30 per 60 minutes. On the lower end, they tin make $38,920 or $19 per hour, peradventure when just starting out or based on the country you live in.

Salary Rankings And Facts

  • #250 Nationally for All Careers

  • Above Average Salary Nationally

Highest Educational activity Among Tattoo Artists

  • 1.ix% Doctorate
  • 12% Masters
  • 45% Bachelors
  • 9% Associates
  • 18.iv% College
  • ten.7% High Schoolhouse
  • 3% Less than High School

Job Growth Projections and Forecast

How does Tattoo Artist job growth stack upward to other jobs beyond the land? By 2024, there volition exist a modify of 100 jobs for a total of 13,500 people employed in the career nationwide. This is a 0.7% modify in growth over the next 10 years, giving the career a growth rate nationwide of Higher up Boilerplate.

Growth Rankings And Facts

  • #583 Nationally for All Careers

  • Above Avg. Growth Nationally

What Companies Employ The Near Tattoo Artists

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