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🎨 Tattoo Artist License Requirements by State
Compare tattoo artist license requirements across all 50 states and DC — experience, exams, fees, and salary data.
Last updated 2026-05-08
By the numbers: 20 of 51 jurisdictions require a state-level tattoo artist license. Apprenticeship and Experience requirements range varies hours. Exam Application Fees range $50–$50. Most state Boards require Continuing Education at every Renewal cycle.
| State | License Required | Experience | Exam Fee | Median Salary |
|---|
| ALAlabama |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$37,218 |
| AKAlaska |
Required |
— |
$50 |
$53,047 |
| AZArizona |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$41,496 |
| ARArkansas |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$35,935 |
| CACalifornia |
Required |
— |
$50 |
$59,036 |
| COColorado |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$46,202 |
| CTConnecticut |
Required |
— |
$50 |
$49,196 |
| DEDelaware |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$42,780 |
| DCDistrict of Columbia |
Required |
— |
$50 |
$54,758 |
| FLFlorida |
Required |
— |
$50 |
$41,068 |
| GAGeorgia |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$39,785 |
| HIHawaii |
Required |
— |
$50 |
$57,753 |
| IDIdaho |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$40,213 |
| ILIllinois |
Required |
— |
$50 |
$44,919 |
| INIndiana |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$38,929 |
| IAIowa |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$38,074 |
| KSKansas |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$38,074 |
| KYKentucky |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$38,074 |
| LALouisiana |
Required |
— |
$50 |
$38,502 |
| MEMaine |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$41,496 |
| MDMaryland |
Required |
— |
$50 |
$46,630 |
| MAMassachusetts |
Required |
— |
$50 |
$52,191 |
| MIMichigan |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$40,213 |
| MNMinnesota |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$44,491 |
| MSMississippi |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$35,507 |
| MOMissouri |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$38,502 |
| MTMontana |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$41,068 |
| NENebraska |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$38,502 |
| NVNevada |
Required |
— |
$50 |
$43,635 |
| NHNew Hampshire |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$44,491 |
| NJNew Jersey |
Required |
— |
$50 |
$50,480 |
| NMNew Mexico |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$38,929 |
| NYNew York |
Required |
— |
$50 |
$55,614 |
| NCNorth Carolina |
Required |
— |
$50 |
$39,357 |
| NDNorth Dakota |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$40,641 |
| OHOhio |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$39,357 |
| OKOklahoma |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$37,218 |
| OROregon |
Required |
— |
$50 |
$47,058 |
| PAPennsylvania |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$41,924 |
| RIRhode Island |
Required |
— |
$50 |
$44,063 |
| SCSouth Carolina |
Required |
— |
$50 |
$38,929 |
| SDSouth Dakota |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$37,646 |
| TNTennessee |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$38,502 |
| TXTexas |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$40,213 |
| UTUtah |
Required |
— |
$50 |
$41,496 |
| VTVermont |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$43,207 |
| VAVirginia |
Required |
— |
$50 |
$43,635 |
| WAWashington |
Required |
— |
$50 |
$50,480 |
| WVWest Virginia |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$36,790 |
| WIWisconsin |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$40,213 |
| WYWyoming |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$40,641 |
Common questions about tattoo artist licensing
Do all states require a tattoo artist license?
No — 20 of 51 jurisdictions require a state-level tattoo artist license. The remainder license at the local or county level, or not at all. See the table above for the per-state breakdown.
How much does it cost to get a tattoo artist license?
Application fees across the states range $50–$50. Renewal fees and continuing education hours vary by jurisdiction — check the state-specific page for the exact numbers.
How many apprenticeship hours does a tattoo artist license typically require?
Required apprenticeship/work experience hours range varies across states, with most states requiring 2–4 years of supervised on-the-job training plus passing a board-administered exam.
Data last verified 2026. Salary data from BLS OEWS. Always verify with your state licensing board.