How Much Do Tattoo Artists Earn? Salary in the UK and US

What is a typical tattoo artist salary? Search online and you will find wildly different answers, from modest wages to six figures. The reason is that tattoo artist income is unusually hard to measure, and depends far more on reputation, pricing and business model than on a set salary.

Here is what salary surveys suggest in the UK and US, why the numbers vary so much, and what really determines what a tattoo artist takes home.

Why tattoo artist salary figures are unreliable

Most tattoo artists are not salaried employees. In both the UK and the US, many are self-employed: they rent a chair in a studio, pay a percentage of each tattoo to the shop, or run their own studio. Tips, cash payments, guest spots and seasonal demand all affect income.

Government statistics do not track tattoo artists as a separate, detailed occupation in the way they do nurses or electricians, so most published figures come from job sites and salary survey companies. These are based on job adverts and self-reported data, and they often disagree with each other significantly.

So treat any single figure as a rough guide, not a fact.

What salary sites report in the UK

At the time of writing, UK salary sites report average tattoo artist earnings ranging from roughly £30,000 to £47,000 a year, depending on the source. Indeed and Glassdoor, for example, give noticeably different averages, and ranges span from the low twenties to much higher figures for established artists.

These averages hide huge differences between an apprentice, a junior artist building a client base, and a well-known artist with a months-long waiting list.

What salary sites report in the US

US salary sites currently report average tattoo artist earnings of roughly $55,000 to $72,000 a year, again depending on the source, with experienced and in-demand artists earning considerably more. Tips, which are customary in the US and commonly 15 to 20 percent, can make a big difference to take-home pay.

What really determines a tattoo artist's income

Experience and reputation

Apprentices typically earn little or nothing while training, often for one to three years, as explained in our guide to how long a tattoo apprenticeship takes. Income grows as artists build a portfolio, repeat clients and a reputation that lets them raise their rates.

Pricing

Artists charge a shop minimum for small pieces, hourly rates for larger work, or day rates for big projects. An established artist's hourly rate can be several times that of a newer artist. Our guide to how much a tattoo costs explains typical pricing.

The studio split

Artists working in someone else's studio commonly give the shop a percentage of each tattoo or pay chair rent. The split covers rent, supplies, equipment, bookings and marketing, and it varies widely between studios.

How busy they are

Tattooing is physically demanding, and there are only so many hours an artist can work well. Income depends on a steady flow of bookings, and quieter months can hit hard.

Location

Big cities usually support higher prices, but also come with higher studio rents and more competition.

Costs of self-employment

Self-employed artists pay for their own needles, inks, equipment, insurance, licensing, training and tax, and have no sick pay or paid holiday. Gross earnings can look much higher than what an artist actually keeps.

Extra income streams

Many artists supplement tattooing with selling prints and designs, merchandise, teaching, guest spots and conventions. Social media reach can transform demand for an artist's work.

Is tattooing a good career financially?

For artists who build strong skills, a distinctive style and a loyal client base, tattooing can be a well-paid creative career. For many others, especially in the early years, income is modest and unpredictable. Most artists will tell you they do it for the love of the craft first.

Thinking about becoming a tattoo artist? Read our guides for the UK and the US.

Salary ranges reflect figures published by job and salary sites including Indeed UK, Glassdoor UK, Indeed US and Glassdoor US at the time of writing. They are estimates based on adverts and self-reported data and change frequently.