Tattoo Artists

Tattoo artists earn hourly wages that ranged from $16.00 to $153.00 in 2022, according to PayScale.com. Based on a 40-hour workweek, these hourly wages would translate to an annual gross pay range of $33,280 to $318,240. This doesn't account for business expenses. Tattoo artists earned average salaries of $82,495 in 2022, according to Indeed.com. Some sources report a lower average salary for tattoo artists—in the range of $45,000 to $55,000.

Most tattoo artists are independent contractors, which means that they enjoy perks such as setting their own hours and choosing which clients to work with. There are drawbacks to being an independent contractor. Tattoo artists must rent space at a tattoo shop, purchase their own equipment and supplies (which can add up to thousands of dollars in expenses), and split the fee for each tattoo they give with the owner of the establishment. Finally, independent contractors typically do not receive health benefits. In fact, only 11 percent of tattoo artists surveyed by PayScale in 2022 reported receiving health insurance.