The average salary for a tattoo artist in the United States is around $39,265 per year.
Avg Salary
Tattoo artists earn an average yearly salary of $39,265.
Wages typically start from $28,653 and go up to $97,284.
4% above national average Updated in 2018
Tattoo artist earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level tattoo artist earnings begin at:
$46.77 per hour
$97,284 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level tattoo artist earnings begin at:
$27.65 per hour
$57,505 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level tattoo artist earnings begin at:
$18.88 per hour
$39,265 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level tattoo artist earnings begin at:
$15.20 per hour
$31,620 per year
10th percentile
Starting level tattoo artist earnings begin at:
$13.78 per hour
$28,653 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
How do tattoo artist salaries compare to similar careers?
Tattoo artists earn 16% more than similar careers in the United States. On average, they make more than sculptors.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Tattoo artist salary | $39K |
| Calligrapher salary | $65K |
| Illustrator salary | $49K |
| Art therapist salary | $48K |
| Sculptor salary | $30K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)