Tattoo Artist

Educational requirements A high school diploma is required. Generally, tattoo artists earn a license based on completion of a training program and passing an exam that measures their ability to understand and follow health and safety protocols, not their creative ability in designing or applying body art. (DHT is an example of a school to get training.)

Required skills Artistic ability is important for tattoo artists to have because clients expect you to create an original design. Tattoo artists need to be CPR certified and basic first aid, and know how to identify different skin structures and function. Health knowledge is an important thing to know when trying to be professional in this field. Tattoo artists need to be good with people, and good listeners so they can communicate with the clients to find out what ideas they have about the tattoo they want. Concentration skills would be a good thing to have because a tattoo is permanent, if you mess up its all on you in the end. STEADY HANDS!!

Salary The average tattoo artist makes about $35,000 per year. As a beginning artist, you do not typically earn a hourly salary, but on the amount of work you do. Also, that includes 15 to 20 percent of a tattoos total cost so you have an instant earning potential. Depending on location, marketing and your experience, your hourly earnings could possibly increase to about $125 to $1,000 per hour.

Job duties & type of work A tattoo artist applies permanent art directly to a customers body, using needles and colored pigments. They may also do body piercings. A tattoo artist works in a tattoo shop, about 12 hours day, 6 days a week. Generally, the working hours for a shop is 9AM-8PM. Weekends they’re open later hours. They can be found in any city.

Job benefits Having clients, you get to meet new interesting people. This is a job that would be enjoyable. Its fairly easy to become a tattoo artist. With commitment and a year or two of training you could be labeled a professional tattoo artist.

Drawbacks If you can’t fulfill the clients wants, you could be sued. It takes a lot of commitment and time. You never know what a client is going to “throw” at you.