How to Become a Tattoo Artist

A tattoo artist is someone who applies permanent body art to a client’s skin with ink, needles, and tattoo machines. This is a creative profession that involves providing art-based customer service. Tattoo artists may work independently, running their own tattoo shop, or they may be employed by a larger establishment.

In terms of what tattoo artists do, they typically begin with a client consultation, where they discuss what types of designs or styles the customer would like as well as the tattoo’s desired size and placement. They then prepare various sketches for the client to consider.

Although decorative tattoos are the most popular, there are other reasons someone might want or need a tattoo. For example, some people seek out tattooing services to achieve permanent makeup or scalp micropigmentation. Others get tattooed for paramedical purposes.

Whether a tattoo professional is creating decorative or functional tattoos, they are responsible for providing customers with a comfortable, sanitary, and pleasant experience.

Duties and responsibilities

A tattoo artist is responsible for more than just inking beautiful designs into their clients’ skin. To start, tattoo artistry is a customer-centric role that involves communicating with clients to understand what they’re hoping to achieve from tattooing services.

It’s also important for tattoo pros to stay up-to-date on the latest trends in tattoo art. While many artists have a signature style, they should be able to create a wide variety of tattoos—like traditional, Japanese, line art, watercolor, geometric, and more.

Because a tattoo is permanently embedded into the skin with ink, it’s critical that tattoo artists be well-versed in cleaning and sterilization techniques. Without a sterile workspace and toolkit, they could put their clients and themselves at risk.

Client education is part of this as well. While tattoo artists take great care in their work, clients need to be mindful of their tattoos in the following weeks to prevent infection. For this reason, tattoo professionals provide clients with after-care tips and instructions.

There aren’t any educational requirements to become a tattoo artist. However, there are certain skills, licenses, and certifications you’ll need before you can practice as a full-fledged tattoo artist.

Do you need a license to tattoo?

Some states require you to get a tattoo license in order to work as a professional artist. This license will only cover the work you do within that state. Other states don’t require a license, but they may have other requirements you’ll need to fulfill.

Example State Licensing Requirements for Tattoo Artists

You’ll need to understand legal regulations for tattoo artists where you live before you take your first steps to becoming a tattoo artist. If your state isn’t listed above, Tattooing 101 has a helpful guide that will direct you to your state’s licensing requirements.

What skills do you need to be a tattoo artist?

Because of the multifaceted work that a tattoo artist does, you will need a mixed set of skills in order to be successful.

Tattoo Artist Core Skills

Can you be a tattoo artist without knowing how to draw?

The short answer is no—you can’t become a tattoo artist without first learning how to draw. No reputable tattoo shop will hire you if you can’t prove that you have drawing experience and basic visual art skills. On top of that, many customers won’t want you near them with your tattoo gun if you have no tattooing experience and can’t even show them drawings of what you can do.

If you’ve already taken a few art classes or spent years sketching in your free time, then this will be no problem for you. All you need to do is assemble a portfolio of your best work. You’ll use this drawing portfolio to apply for apprenticeships and show your first few clients.

On the other hand, if you don’t have any background in the visual arts or experience drawing, you’ll have to put in a fair bit of work to build up a solid foundation of knowledge and get some practice with drawing.

How to improve your art skills

Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to learn how to draw. A popular route for aspiring tattoo artists is to enroll in art classes. You don’t necessarily need a fine arts degree (although it certainly wouldn’t hurt). Even just taking some art classes at your local community college would be enough to get you started.

If you can’t afford art classes or you want to speed up the process of becoming a tattoo artist, then you can also go the self-taught route. In today’s world, there are countless online tutorials, programs, and tools you can take advantage of, many of which are free.

Drawabox, for example, is an amazing free resource for learning to draw. You can also access drawing tutorials from countless professional artists on YouTube.

There are generally three pathways you can take when it comes to learning to tattoo.

Option 1: Get a tattoo apprenticeship

Getting a tattoo apprenticeship is a popular route taken by many aspiring tattoo artists. The biggest appeals are that apprenticing is cheaper than schooling and that it makes it much easier to find a tattoo artist job later on.

The costs involved in becoming a tattoo apprentice are minimal. All you’ll really need to buy is a tattoo gun and basic supplies to bring with you. You will, however, spend a lot of time shadowing a licensed tattoo artist, and that time commitment is a big one.

On average, apprenticeships last about 2 years. That’s 2 years of shadowing and working at a tattoo shop, potentially unpaid. The tradeoff, though, is that it’ll be easier to get a job once you’re licensed.

To apply for a tattoo apprenticeship, you don’t need any professional schooling. Many apprentices are self-taught. However, some tattoo studios will want to see a portfolio of your work so they can get a feel for your understanding of tattooing basics.

Once you’re an apprentice, you’ll spend your time learning these tattooing basics:

• Lining and shading
• Different tattoo styles
• Operating tattoo machines
• Sanitization techniques
• Shop operations

In terms of gaining hands-on practice, that will likely come later. When applying to apprenticeships, it’s a good idea to inquire about this since some shops won’t let you work on real clients until the very end of your time with them (if at all).

There are a number of drawbacks to going this route. The first is the huge time commitment. The second is the limited hands-on experience you’ll get. Additionally, you will still need to gain all the certifications and licenses that your state requires before you can become a professional tattoo artist.

Option 2: Enroll in a tattoo school

Another option is to attend a state-licensed tattoo school. This is the fastest way to become a properly trained tattoo artist. It’s a good option if you’re looking for a shortcut to licensure or if you’re entering a specialty, like permanent cosmetics, body piercing, or medical tattooing.

Tattoo schools aren’t as easy to come by as apprenticeships. They’re also quite expensive. The average tattoo school costs about $10,000.

However, if you can find one near you, you’ll be able to complete your state’s requirements in a relatively short time frame. You also won’t have to wait long to become a paid tattoo artist.

Tattoo classes provide instruction on any of the topics below:

• History and the art of tattooing
• Skin biology
• Proper and safe tattooing techniques
• Station setup
• Cleanliness and sterilization
• Building and managing tattoo machines
• CPR and first aid
• Bloodborne pathogens
• Customer service and consultations
• Building your tattoo brand

You’ll receive hundreds of hours of hands-on instruction. In addition, you’ll gain tattooing experience on fake skin as well as on real clients, which will help you build a portfolio before getting licensed.

Although clients might not care about a tattoo artist’s education and training, the studios looking to hire probably will. Spending 3–6 months in a state-licensed school can give you an edge over the competition and help you land a job much sooner. What’s more, many of these schools will connect you to local studios that are hiring.

Option 3: Learn how to tattoo at home

Teaching yourself how to tattoo is the cheapest and fastest way to become a tattoo artist, but it’s not advisable. The reality is that you’re going to have a much harder time getting licensed and finding work as a self-taught tattoo artist.

Many states and counties have strict requirements not only for tattoo artists but also tattoo shops. At the very least, you’ll need to demonstrate tattooing experience and have a list of certifications. At the most, you’ll need to fulfill all of those requirements in addition to completing an apprenticeship.

For instance, in the state of Connecticut, you need 2,000 hours of apprentice training with a licensed tattoo technician. That’s just to become a tattoo technician. If you want to receive a permanent professional license, you need 5 years of continuous practice.

So while you can learn how to draw and practice tattooing from home, you won’t be able to obtain the necessary requirements to get hired by many shops or even start your own.

Once you’ve decided which tattoo education path you’re going to take and completed your training, you’ll be eligible for a tattoo artist license. Because each state has different license requirements, it’s important to review them before beginning the process.

You may need to obtain certifications and complete a certain number of training hours first. For instance, many licensing authorities want tattoo artists to be trained and certified in first aid, CPR, and bloodborne pathogens.

So if you didn’t attend a school that offered those classes or you didn’t take them in your off time, you’ll need to complete them first. You can then reach out to your state or county, pay the licensing fee, and begin the process.

Most professional licenses have to be renewed every couple of years, and tattoo licenses are no different.

There are different ways to make a living as a tattoo artist. You can apply for tattoo artist jobs at studios in your area or you can open your own. Here’s a detailed breakdown of your tattoo artist job options.

Get a job at a tattoo shop

If you got your tattoo training as an apprentice, then you may already have your foot in the door at a shop. Tattoo schools often help their students get placed at reputable shops as well.

If you don’t have any local connections, then you’ll need to start applying for open jobs. A good way to kick this process off is to research local tattoo shops.

Find tattoo shops that have a good reputation, and then connect with the shop owner. Be prepared to show them your resume, portfolio, relevant tattoo certifications, and your license. You’ll also want to demonstrate your varied skill set so they know they’re taking on not just a talented artist but also a savvy customer service specialist.

The nice thing about working at a tattoo shop is that you don’t have to hunt for clients of your own. It’s still important to do your own marketing, but the shop will do a lot of it for you.

Even though you’re an employee of the shop, you’ll still probably be expected to buy your own equipment and supplies. So be prepared to spend money on tattoo guns, needles, tubes, ink, and hygiene supplies.

Open your own tattoo shop

The final way to start a career as a tattoo artist is to open a tattoo shop of your own. This is the end goal for many tattoo artists, and it often takes years of experience working in someone else’s shop before it becomes a feasible option. But there are many advantages to running your own tattoo parlor.

For starters, you’ll get to keep 100% of your earnings. If you hire other tattoo artists, you’ll also make a commission off of their work.

Another bonus of opening a tattoo shop is that you have total control over how things are run, the types of services you offer, who works for you, and so on. If you have a specific vision for your tattooing career and like the idea of managing a business, this could be a great option.

However, this is a much more expensive route since you’ll need to either lease or buy the space for your studio. You’ll also need to pay for the setup, supplies, and staff as well as obtain a separate license for the shop. Plus, you’ll need to spend time on marketing and sales or pay someone to do it.

Tattooing isn’t for everyone. Some of the most talented sketch artists and designers just can’t get the hang of tattooing live skin, or they don’t enjoy it.

However, if you’ve reached this point and feel as though you have what it takes to become a professional tattoo artist, this could be a great career path—and a lucrative one at that.

That said, if you’re looking for an easy side hustle, becoming a tattoo artist isn’t the way to go. Getting into tattoo artistry requires a huge upfront commitment. You’ll also need to spend a good amount of time maintaining your practice, staying on top of trends, managing clients, marketing yourself, and more.

Pros and cons of being a tattoo artist

To sum up, here are the main advantages and disadvantages of life and work as a tattoo artist.

How long does it take to become a tattoo artist?

You can expect the entire process of becoming a tattoo artist to take anywhere from 3 months to 2 years. The exact timeline largely depends on where you live. After all, each state has its own requirements for tattoo artists, and you won’t be able to legally practice until you meet those requirements.

What’s more, which tattoo artist training path you choose will affect how long it takes to start working as a professional tattoo artist. If you go the self-taught route, you could start working as a tattoo artist as soon as you feel confident enough to do so. However, you might have a hard time attracting clients without formal training or experience.

If you attend a state-licensed tattoo school, it could take anywhere from 3 to 12 months to get certified, licensed, and ready to apply for tattoo artist jobs.

If you become a tattoo apprentice, you’ll gain real world experience in a tattoo shop for 2 years. However, you won’t be able to become a tattoo artist until you complete your training. On average, this takes 2 years.

How much does a tattoo artist make?

Tattoo artists of all levels generally make good money. According to self-reported income data from across the web, tattoo artists typically make somewhere in the range of $35,000–$80,000 per year. In real terms, many tattoo artists charge up to $150 per hour, but inconsistent work hours and fluctuations in demand bring down their overall take home pay.

A big consideration is where you work. A tattoo artist who runs their own shop will keep all of their earnings but have higher business expenses. Those who rent booths in someone else’s shop may sacrifice a 40%–60% cut of their pay in the form of commission fees, but the shop may provide complimentary supplies in return.

If you take a look at the average cost of a tattoo, you’ll see how much more money you could make if you weren’t paying a commission. According to Fash.com, the average hourly cost for tattoos is $120 to $150.

Aside from where you work, your earnings as a tattoo artist will mainly depend on your location, experience level, and whether you work independently or as a shop employee. Other factors like your specialty can also factor into your pay.