Tattoo designers are paid very well. However, if you are into this business only for money, then, you should reconsider your options. Unless you love the art of tattooing, you cannot be very successful and perhaps not earn much. If you are passionate about this body art, then you are in the right place.
Variables
How much can you expect to make as a tattoo designer is a very subjective query. It is impossible to draw any conclusion and it depends of a lot of variables. For example where do you live? What is the local economy like? How much do they pay you in your area? All these factors plus how many customers visit you will determine your earnings.
If you are living in a community that opposes tattooing, then your chance of doing business over there is bleak. Or your business won't flourish much. How busy is your area? What is the population of your town? If you are residing in a small town with a population of just 2000/3000, then your business will be a lot slower as against someone who has a tattoo parlor in a busy city. If you have your tattoo shop in a place where there are already 20 more to compete with, then you may do less business, as customers will be divided. Imagine all those customers coming only to you. Hence location is an important criterion to have good tattoo business.
Yet another important factor is how good are you? If you are a skillful tattoo designer, you will get a lot of work even if your competition is high. Knowing more than just coloring inside the lines is where the best tattoo designers have an edge. For many tattoo artists who have got things right, making about $20-30,000 is quite possible. Tattoo designers who are in demand will make much higher.
Aspiring for being a tattoo designer?
Individuals who are planning to be a tattoo artist should be very skilled artists and drawers. If you are planning to fine tune these skills you can choose to take drawing classes at art schools, but this is not essential. There are several schools that specially offer courses in Studying Illustration and Design. You can join them online or go to the campus. In most areas, individuals should first complete their apprenticeship before beginning their tattooing career. In these apprenticeships the tattoo artists work alongside the established tattoo designers. At the beginning they may find just sterilizing the equipment or modifying a tattoo art. Once the individual masters the skill and can use the equipment without monitoring, he or she is ready to start on their own.
This business is a gamble
Sometimes getting into this business is a gamble just like getting into any other business. There are so many new things coming up each day. People are becoming tech savvy and looking for better design quality. They are looking for something unique. They want cleaner environments and the guarantee that they won't get affected by any disease once tattoo is inked on their bodies. With so many responsibilities, you have to take your passion to the point of taking risks. While art is all about passion, business is mostly about taking risks.