I'm kind of at a cross roads right now, trying to figure out what im going to do for the rest of my working life and one of my options is to become a tattoo artist but before i make any decision to dedicate my life to it I need to know how much money an average tattoo artist earns, and also if you think i'm too old to get into it? I'm 28 now and even though its not really old, i'm wondering how long it'll take me train up, get established, make a name for myself etc. Do you think it's worth it at my age?" -Gareth
Dear Gareth,
I actually covered this topic a little bit in my Tattoo FAQ, but here are a couple of financial things to consider that aren't mentioned on that page: Do you have a family to support?If so, then you have to consider whether or not your family could survive while you serve your apprenticeship. Do you have enough in savings to sustain you, or would it be possible to hold down your paying job and serve an apprenticeship at the same time? Do you have the stamina and/or willingness to do that if needed? Do you have the money to pay for an apprenticeship in the first place?There's no set price for apprenticeships; just whatever an artist wants to charge for their time and knowledge. Some can be rather expensive, like going to college, but most loan companies don't look at tattoo apprenticeships as a valid form of education.
Just a few things to think about, but if you want something badly enough I don't see anything getting in your way - especially not age.