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In terms of income, tattoo artists vary as widely as any other field. Typically, tattoo artists are paid a percentage of the charge to the client- in other words, an artist takes home only part of the cost to the client. There are three "tiers" within the industry, as regards pay scale; contractor, employee, and owner/sole artist.

A contractor usually is paid a straight percentage of the cost of each tattoo. Shops vary widely in accounting methods and starting pay, but a typical beginning artist will take home 40-50% of the total. Of course, raises come along with experience and repeat clientele. An employee, on the other hand, has less overhead. While contractors usually provide all, or nearly all, of their own equipment, employees are often spared this cost. They are usually paid a lower percentage; often, they also must pay into the same things any regular business employee would- insurance, taxes, and IRAs included. A sole artist or shop owner is in the most profitable position, since they can reduce their overhead in various ways and keep all remaining profit.

Most beginning artists are near the poverty level- of course, this again varies depending on the artist's ability, location, and commitment to simply applying popular images. Although tattooing seems lucrative to many otherwise-starving artists, in reality it is difficult and demanding work done at average incomes with health risks not encountered in other workplaces.

The one perk that makes the field irresistible to some is the personal freedom it allows, in both appearance and personal quirks. Most clients expect their artist to be a bit eccentric, strange, and body-modified; this allows tattoo artists to be as bizarre (or as boring) as they choose. Many people will sacrifice higher income brackets for this freedom alone. Also, the hours are extremely flexible, within reason. Not many clients are shopping for tattoo art at eight AM, nor are they sober enough to be tattooed at three AM. Almost any other schedule is within reason. Given enough experience and a good attitude it is possible to work very limited hours and spend all that spare time fishing, or hiking, or painting, or simply not working.

One thing which affects tattoo artists' incomes nearly as much as experience and capability is willingness to perform mundane artwork. The majority of tattoo clientele either have a pre-existing design (which is usually drawn by a - very- amateur artist) or want something very similar to other tattoos they

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