Custom & flash
Tattoo Artist
An apprenticeship that costs you money before it pays any.
Typical pay
$30k-$120k
How you get in
Apprenticeship, 1-3 years, plus state licensing
Outlook
Competitive; reputation and specialty decide it
Tattoo artists design and apply permanent work on skin. Entry runs through an apprenticeship that is often unpaid or paid for, and the first years are about earning a chair and a reputation more than an income.
A day in the life
- 11:00aOpen, set up the station, autoclave check
- 12:00pConsultation and stencil for the afternoon piece
- 1:00pFive-hour session on a sleeve
- 6:00pBreak, then a small walk-in piece
- 8:00pDraw designs for tomorrow's clients
- 10:00pPost the day's work, answer booking DMs
How to get in
Shop apprenticeship
Duration
1-3 years
Cost
$0-$10,000 — many apprenticeships are unpaid or charged for
Credential
State tattoo license plus bloodborne pathogen certification
- Build a strong drawing portfolio — this is what gets you considered
- Find a reputable shop and earn an apprenticeship
- Clean, set up and draw for months before you touch skin
- Get licensed, tattoo friends and staff, then take clients
Art school then apprentice
Duration
2-4 years art, then the apprenticeship
Cost
$15,000-$150,000 plus apprenticeship
Credential
State license
- Build formal drawing and design skill
- Assemble a portfolio that stands out from other applicants
- Still complete a shop apprenticeship — no school replaces it
- Enter with stronger fundamentals than most apprentices
Specialize to build a book faster
Duration
Ongoing after licensure
Cost
$1,000-$10,000 in guest spots and conventions
Credential
License plus a recognizable style
- Get licensed and work walk-ins to build speed
- Develop one identifiable style rather than doing everything
- Do guest spots and conventions to build reach
- Specialists book out further and charge more
What people love
- · Genuinely creative career
- · Strong income once your book fills
- · Own your schedule as a chair renter
- · Portable to any city
What wears people down
- · Apprenticeships are often unpaid or paid for
- · Years before a real income
- · Bloodborne pathogen and licensing requirements
- · Income stops entirely if you stop tattooing