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Tattoo Artist salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for a tattoo artist is $49,400 per annum, before tax, up $10,300 since 2018.
Most tattoo artists charge per piece or by the hour and pay the studio rent or a share of the fee, so take-home pay depends on how full the book is. Your reputation, your style and how long you have been tattooing shape earnings more than anything else. There is usually no paid leave or sick pay, so a slow month or an injury to your hands lands directly on you.
Roles that pay more than tattoo artist
The largest typical pay rise is $28,600 a year, moving into Textile Designer.
- Textile Designer+$28,600/yr
- Jeweller+$10,400/yr
- Fashion Designer+$10,100/yr
How to negotiate a higher tattoo artist salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time tattoo artist salary is $49,400; use that, not a guess, as your anchor, and adjust for your experience and employer.
- Lead with what's scarce, not just tenure. Skills like Visual design and Creative software production tend to command a premium over general tattoo artist experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Bring a real alternative to the table. Textile Designer pays a typical $28,600 a year more and draws on similar skills, even mentioning you're weighing it up is a legitimate data point in a pay conversation.
- Time it deliberately. Reviews, the end of a project you delivered, or taking on responsibility beyond your job description are stronger moments to ask than an arbitrary date on the calendar.
- Ask for a number, not a raise. "Based on the market rate and [specific contribution], I'd like to move to X" gets a clearer answer than "I think I deserve more."
Tattoo Artist salary questions
How much do tattoo artists earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for a tattoo artist is $49,400 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is tattoo artist pay rising or falling?
The median tattoo artist salary is up $10,300 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.
What pays more than tattoo artist?
Textile Designer pays a typical $28,600 a year more and draws on similar skills to tattoo artist.