How do tattoo artist get paid

Tipping is encouraged when an artist is paying commission for their workspace. If an artist is lucky enough to have their own workspace, they pay commission to no man!

Some tattoo artists may have a home studio. The guest bedroom, attic, basement or fancy shed can serve them well. Tattoo artists with their own space keep everything they make from each booking. A lot of it is going straight back into the business.

Rent can often be more expensive for someone not renting from a parlor owner. The upside of renting a space in a tattoo parlor is they might not have to buy all their equipment and materials. This may be covered in the rent or commission. Tattoo artists that own their parlor will need to keep on top of their equipment. Plenty of tattoo equipment is a capital purchase, and the costs can be amortized. If an artist chooses to use disposable tubes with their machines, those will be a consumable expense and a direct cost of carrying out the tattoo.

In contrast, sanitation machines for reusable tubes will be classed as a business asset, and so will be amortized, too. Consider joining the Inkbox Artist Community , which is always looking for talented artists in any medium to start selling their designs as Inkbox Tattoos. Just a heads up, Inside Out is powered by the folks at Inkbox. Your email address will not be published. Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment.

If you are just starting out, you may want to offer free tattoos until you know what you are doing and when you have a portfolio of your work. While establishing your brand and a name for yourself, you might need to work a second job for a steady income stream.

Tattoo parlors are located all over the world, in small towns and big cities. Evening and weekend hours are common. The job requires painstaking concentration, and excellent communication skills to discuss design plans, the process and aftercare. Physical stamina and being able to focus and not make mistakes after working long hours can also increase your potential annual earnings. Experience, word of mouth and advertising on social media make a big difference in earning power.

Popular tattoo artists have waiting lists of clients. Annual wages increase, as you gain more clients. At first, you might only do a couple of tattoos a day.