Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Thinking Creatively Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Handling and Moving Objects Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

The Work

Tattooists use artistic skills to make permanent images on people's bodies. They do this using a needle and inks.  
 
When a customer enters a tattoo studio they may spend some time looking through the standard designs that are available. They choose one that they like but may want to add their own ideas too. Through discussing the alternatives the tattooist and the customer come to an agreement this ensures no errors are made as tattoos are permanent and difficult to rectify once completed.  
 
The tattoo machine is set up ready for the type of tattoo that is required. The needles of the tattoo machine make little holes in the skin and the ink fills these holes. A tattoo is permanent because the ink is applied to the base layer of skin.  
 
Some tattooists specialise in a certain type of tattoo - tribal work or oriental styles, for example. However, most tattooists are prepared to do many styles of tattoo.  
 
It is a tattooist's responsibility to make sure that the studio environment and any equipment used are kept clean and sterile.  
 
Some tattooists combine their work with body piercing. You need to wear protective gloves and maintain high standards of hygiene and safety. Sometime you may have to deal with clients that are unhappy with their tattoos or perhaps nervous.

Increasingly Tattoo Artists use social media to showcase their artwork. Skills and ability in marketing via digital media continue to develop with new apps to share their art work 

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Use materials such as pens and ink, watercolors, charcoal, oil, or computer software to create artwork.
• Integrate and develop visual elements, such as line, space, mass, color, and perspective, to produce desired effects, such as the illustration of ideas, emotions, or moods.
• Confer with clients, editors, writers, art directors, and other interested parties regarding the nature and content of artwork to be produced.
• Maintain portfolios of artistic work to demonstrate styles, interests, and abilities.
• Market artwork through brochures, mailings, or Web sites.
• Study different techniques to learn how to apply them to artistic endeavors.
• Monitor events, trends, and other circumstances, research specific subject areas, attend art exhibitions, and read art publications to develop ideas and keep current on art world activities.
• Photograph objects, places, or scenes for reference material.
• Model substances such as clay or wax, using fingers and small hand tools to form objects.
• Create sculptures, statues, and other three-dimensional artwork by using abrasives and tools to shape, carve, and fabricate materials such as clay, stone, wood, or metal.

Further Information

• Tattoo Artist - from: N.C.S. [UK]
• Tattoo Artist - from: N.C.S. [UK]

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Creative

Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.

Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.

Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

There are varied entry route into this job. In practice though, many new tattooists spend up to three years as an in company Apprentice to an experienced Tattooist, in compliance with an industry representative: Association of Body modifications Artists ireland. Building your experience & skills, you would learn how to use the Tattooing equipment and hone your tattooing skills. You would also learn about customer service and see how a business runs.  

Some people approach Tattooing after a background in art: Graphic, Animation, Fine Art, or studying Art at College or University. Then get taken on by a Tatoo shop, company to learn needle work and Tatooing during an in company trainee learning till qualified. 

Training & Development 

FET Centre Traineeship: Animation & Creative media NFQ level 5 search FET Traineeships

FET Centre PLC course: Tattoo Artistry, Art, Art portfolio prep, creative Media, Creative Design, Graphic design at NFQ level 5 Search our PLC Coursefinder  

Higher Education CAO Entry:  Graphic Design, Graphic and Digital Design, Art, Contemporary Art, Fine Art, Visual Arts, creative Media, Creative Design at NFQ Levels 7-8 Search our CAO coursefinder

Professional Associations 

Association of Body modifications Artists Ireland

Last Updated: November, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €26k - €45k

Salaries Vary by employer, location, role, duties, shift pattern, and experience.

Data Source(s):
SalaryExpert/ Payscale/ Indeed/ Glassdoor/ Prosperity

Last Updated: March, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Employment grew strongly between 2021 and 2022, with an additional 7,300 persons employed. As illustrated in the CSO Census data below, employment is spread across a number of roles; since 2016, the strongest growth, in absolute terms, was for graphic designers and authors, writers and translators.

New employment permits issued for this occupation in 2022 were primarily for film/TV and animation/visual effects (VFX) roles but also for linguistics experts in the ICT sector. There was also a high volume of recent job hires in line with the recent employment increase. The data does not point to overall issues with recruitment for these roles.

• The Association of Body Modification Artists in Ireland

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