Beauty & Personal Care

How to become a Tattoo Artist

From no experience: every step, how long it takes, and the credential it earns.

Time to get there

1–3 years

Typical pay

$40k–$80k

Starting from

No experience

Pay is an estimate of typical US entry-level pay for this role and varies by state, employer and shift. The timeline assumes you are starting from no experience and includes any licence or programme legally required, not just course length.

The route

1. 1

   6–12 months

   Build a drawing portfolio

   No shop takes an apprentice without one. This is the gate, and it takes months.

2. 2

   3–12 months

   Find an apprenticeship

   Said plainly: most are unpaid or low-paid, and finding a good mentor is the hardest step.

3. 3

   1–3 years

   Complete the apprenticeship

   Sterilisation, machine setup, then skin. One to three years of shop work.

4. 4

   Get licensed and build a following

   State bloodborne pathogens certification and a body art licence, then your own book.

   ◆ State tattoo artist licence

5. ✓

   Destination

   Tattoo Artist

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