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Career pathway

Body Artist

ANZSCO 451814

Employed

3,700

Part-time share

51%

Female share

49%

Median age

32 yrs

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia · ABS 2021 Census of Population and Housing.

Salary and some workforce figures are suppressed for this occupation because Jobs and Skills Australia / the ABS do not publish estimates for small populations (typically fewer than 50 employed people) or because the figures have been perturbed for privacy. They are shown as unavailable rather than zero.

About this career

Body Artists decorate, adorn or modify the human body by using a range of techniques such as tattooing, piercing, cutting, branding, manipulating, stretching, and scarring the skin.

What they typically do

  • Explains tattooing procedure to client.
  • Ensures client is certain about wanting a tattoo.
  • Helps the client chose an image, interprets the client's ideas to form a suitable image, copy or design image for the client, resizes image to fit the body part it is going on and makes a stencil of the image.
  • Shaves the area being tattooed and applies disinfectant to the skin.
  • Puts the stencil on the skin to ensure it fits with the body part.
  • Solders the group of needles onto the needle bar.
  • Draws the outline, colouring and shadowing of the tattoo with inked needles.
  • Applies cream and antiseptic covers to the finished tattoo.
  • Tells clients how to properly care for the tattoo.
  • Ensures all sterilisation equipment is kept in good working order.
  • Ensures the studio and equipment meets with sterilisation, waste management and health and safety standards.
  • Trains people.

States and territories

Share of workers by location

QLD
28.6%
VIC
26.6%
NSW
19.8%
WA
11.8%
SA
9.1%
TAS
2.2%
ACT
1.3%
NT
0.5%

Qualification pathways

These accredited qualifications can lead to a career as a Body Artist.