Best cities for a tattoo artist
The best cities for tattoo artists are Fort Wayne, IN, Madison, WI, and Milwaukee, WI, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for tattoo artists vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for tattoo artists in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a tattoo artist or considering a move, this list of the best cities for tattoo artists to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for tattoo artists. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a tattoo artist. While the absolute best city for tattoo artists is Fort Wayne, IN, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for tattoo artists in 2024.
If you're looking for a tattoo artist job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for tattoo artists in 2025
1. Fort Wayne, IN
Total tattoo artist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $57,004 Lowest 10 percent warn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location quotient: 0.00 2. Madison, WI
Total tattoo artist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $54,477 Lowest 10 percent warn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location quotient: 0.00 3. Milwaukee, WI
Total tattoo artist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $56,173 Lowest 10 percent warn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location quotient: 0.00 4. Boston, MA
Total tattoo artist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $63,857 Lowest 10 percent warn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Jersey City, NJ
Total tattoo artist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $62,202 Lowest 10 percent warn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Philadelphia, PA
Total tattoo artist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $69,521 Lowest 10 percent warn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $151,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Newark, NJ
Total tattoo artist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $62,170 Lowest 10 percent warn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. San Francisco, CA
Total tattoo artist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $65,589 Lowest 10 percent warn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $149,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Pittsburgh, PA
Total tattoo artist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $63,831 Lowest 10 percent warn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Anchorage, AK
Total tattoo artist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $68,757 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for tattoo artists
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Madison, WI
- Milwaukee, WI
- Boston, MA
- Jersey City, NJ
- Philadelphia, PA
- Newark, NJ
- San Francisco, CA
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Anchorage, AK
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Detailed list of the best cities for a tattoo artist
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort Wayne, IN | $57,004 | $28,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 2 | Madison, WI | $54,477 | $28,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 3 | Milwaukee, WI | $56,173 | $29,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $63,857 | $29,000 | 673,184 | - |
| 5 | Jersey City, NJ | $62,202 | $28,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $69,521 | $31,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 7 | Newark, NJ | $62,170 | $28,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 8 | San Francisco, CA | $65,589 | $28,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 9 | Pittsburgh, PA | $63,831 | $30,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 10 | Anchorage, AK | $68,757 | $33,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 11 | Durham, NC | $55,784 | $26,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 12 | San Jose, CA | $65,500 | $28,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 13 | Brookhaven, NY | $64,762 | $29,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 14 | Raleigh, NC | $55,762 | $26,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 15 | Fremont, CA | $65,385 | $28,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 16 | Islip, NY | $64,723 | $29,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 17 | Indianapolis, IN | $53,416 | $26,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 18 | Oakland, CA | $65,381 | $28,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 19 | Oyster Bay, NY | $64,626 | $29,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 20 | Hempstead, NY | $64,604 | $29,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 21 | New York, NY | $64,502 | $29,000 | 8,537,673 | 5 |
| 22 | Bakersfield, CA | $64,183 | $28,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 23 | Greensboro, NC | $54,594 | $26,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 24 | Fresno, CA | $64,040 | $28,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 25 | Stockton, CA | $63,939 | $28,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 26 | Buffalo, NY | $61,784 | $29,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 27 | Winston-Salem, NC | $53,940 | $25,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 28 | Los Angeles, CA | $63,546 | $28,000 | 3,976,322 | - |
| 29 | Long Beach, CA | $63,287 | $28,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 30 | Anaheim, CA | $63,124 | $28,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 31 | Las Vegas, NV | $52,567 | $23,000 | 632,912 | 1 |
| 32 | Santa Ana, CA | $63,054 | $28,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 33 | Henderson, NV | $52,608 | $24,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 34 | Irvine, CA | $62,954 | $28,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 35 | North Las Vegas, NV | $52,320 | $23,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 36 | Riverside, CA | $62,771 | $28,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 37 | San Diego, CA | $62,132 | $28,000 | 1,406,630 | - |
| 38 | Chula Vista, CA | $62,027 | $28,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 39 | Charlotte, NC | $51,615 | $25,000 | 842,051 | - |
| 40 | Cleveland, OH | $48,029 | $23,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 41 | Detroit, MI | $48,870 | $24,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 42 | Reno, NV | $48,667 | $21,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 43 | Oklahoma City, OK | $46,687 | $23,000 | 638,367 | - |
| 44 | Memphis, TN | $41,322 | $20,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 45 | Sacramento, CA | $62,108 | $27,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 46 | Baltimore, MD | $57,802 | $26,000 | 614,664 | - |
| 47 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $50,275 | $24,000 | 260,999 | - |
| 48 | Tulsa, OK | $46,078 | $23,000 | 403,090 | - |
| 49 | Cincinnati, OH | $41,390 | $20,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 50 | Columbus, OH | $44,342 | $21,000 | 860,090 | - |
Highest paying cities for tattoo artists
| Rank | City | Avg. tattoo artist salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $64,502 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $63,546 |
| 3 | Madison, WI | $54,477 |
| 4 | Sanford, NC | $54,303 |
| 5 | Bismarck, ND | $48,282 |
| 6 | Atlanta, GA | $47,572 |
| 7 | Virginia Beach, VA | $46,196 |
| 8 | Portland, OR | $42,034 |
| 9 | Houston, TX | $40,753 |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | $40,562 |
| 11 | Salt Lake City, UT | $36,909 |
Tattoo artist best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025