Tattooist demographics and statistics in the US
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Tattooist demographics by:
Tattooist gender statistics
29.1% of tattooists are women and 70.9% of tattooists are men.
- Male, 70.9%
- Female, 29.1%
Tattooist gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 70.9% |
| Female | 29.1% |
Tattooist gender pay gap
Women earn 98¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$53,495
Female income
$52,168
Tattooist gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in tattooist positions over time. Currently, 29.1% of tattooists are female.
Tattooist gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 83.12% | 16.88% |
| 2011 | 85.48% | 14.52% |
| 2012 | 84.80% | 15.20% |
| 2013 | 84.49% | 15.51% |
| 2014 | 83.87% | 16.13% |
| 2015 | 70.09% | 29.91% |
| 2016 | 72.54% | 27.46% |
| 2017 | 71.79% | 28.21% |
| 2018 | 71.70% | 28.30% |
| 2019 | 73.77% | 26.23% |
| 2020 | 75.36% | 24.64% |
| 2021 | 70.93% | 29.07% |
Tattooist related jobs gender ratio
We compared tattooists with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, camp boss and valet have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Infant Childcare Provider | 3% | 97% |
| Daycare Owner | 4% | 96% |
| Professional Nanny | 5% | 95% |
| Tattooist | 71% | 29% |
| Intramural Director | 82% | 18% |
| Valet | 85% | 15% |
| Camp Boss | 88% | 12% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Tattooist demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among tattooists is White, which makes up 57.9% of all tattooists. Comparatively, 19.9% of tattooists are Hispanic or Latino and 9.0% of tattooists are Black or African American.
- White, 57.9%
- Hispanic or Latino, 19.9%
- Black or African American, 9.0%
- Unknown, 6.4%
- Asian, 5.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
Tattooist race
| Tattooist race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 57.9% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 19.9% |
| Black or African American | 9.0% |
| Unknown | 6.4% |
| Asian | 5.8% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1.0% |
Tattooist race and ethnicity over time
See how tattooist racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Tattooist race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 63.78% | 8.92% | 5.33% | 18.39% |
| 2011 | 63.31% | 7.05% | 4.58% | 20.01% |
| 2012 | 59.75% | 9.07% | 4.57% | 22.14% |
| 2013 | 60.94% | 9.24% | 4.80% | 21.54% |
| 2014 | 62.87% | 10.18% | 4.74% | 18.84% |
| 2015 | 59.56% | 12.30% | 4.89% | 19.30% |
| 2016 | 61.99% | 9.23% | 5.57% | 19.30% |
| 2017 | 61.62% | 8.56% | 5.55% | 19.57% |
| 2018 | 59.15% | 11.22% | 5.37% | 20.38% |
| 2019 | 59.45% | 9.75% | 6.06% | 21.22% |
| 2020 | 60.98% | 9.40% | 5.18% | 19.22% |
| 2021 | 57.87% | 9.04% | 5.81% | 19.85% |
Tattooist wage gap by race
According to our data, white tattooists have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american tattooists have the lowest average salary at $48,198.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $54,411 |
| White | $57,395 |
| Black or African American | $48,198 |
| Asian | $51,993 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $55,983 |
Average tattooist age
See how the average age of tattooists varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Tattooist age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 41 | 38 |
| White | 43.5 | 42 |
| Black or African American | 46 | 42 |
| Asian | 41.5 | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 35 | 34 |
Tattooist age breakdown
The average age of tattooists is 40+ years years old, representing 52% of the tattooist population.
Tattooist age breakdown
| Tattooist Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 52% |
| 30-40 years | 25% |
| 20-30 years | 22% |
Tattooist educational attainment
The most common degree for tattooists is high school diploma, with 50% of tattooists earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 25% and associate degree degree at 7%.
- High School Diploma, 50%
- Associate, 25%
- Bachelor's, 7%
- Diploma, 7%
- Other Degrees, 11%
Tattooists by degree level
| Tattooist degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 50% |
| Associate | 25% |
| Bachelor's | 7% |
| Diploma | 7% |
| Other Degrees | 11% |
Tattooist jobs you might like
Tattooist wage gap by degree level
According to the data, tattooists with a Bachelor's degree earn more than those without, at $62,736 annually. With a Associate degree, tattooists earn a median annual income of $51,111 compared to $47,611 for tattooists with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $47,611 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $62,736 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $51,111 |
Tattooist turnover and employment statistics
Tattooist unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for tattooists between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Tattooist unemployment rate by year
| Year | Tattooist unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 10.30% |
| 2011 | 9.67% |
| 2012 | 9.93% |
| 2013 | 9.00% |
| 2014 | 9.06% |
| 2015 | 6.16% |
| 2016 | 6.01% |
| 2017 | 6.24% |
| 2018 | 5.94% |
| 2019 | 5.11% |
| 2020 | 9.61% |
| 2021 | 10.60% |
Average tattooist tenure
The average tattooist stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 100 tattooists resumes in Zippia's database.
Tattooist tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 9% |
| 1-2 years | 28% |
| 3-4 years | 16% |
| 5-7 years | 17% |
| 8-10 years | 12% |
| 11+ years | 18% |
Tattooist LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of tattooists that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Nursery Attendant | 4.43% | 45,644 |
| Tattooist | 5.80% | - |
| Home Care Giver | 6.73% | 193,360 |
| Assistant Camp Counselor | 8.12% | 30,766 |
| Associate Dean Of Person | 12.72% | 31,629 |
| Yoga Teacher | 13.13% | 52,681 |
Similar tattooist jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Nursery Attendant | 4.43% | 45,644 |
| Home Care Giver | 6.73% | 193,360 |
| Assistant Camp Counselor | 8.12% | 30,766 |
| Associate Dean Of Person | 12.72% | 31,629 |
| Yoga Teacher | 13.13% | 52,681 |
Foreign languages spoken by tattooists
- Spanish, 100.0%
Tattooist languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 100.0% |