What award covers tattoo artists in Australia?

According to the Fair Work Ombudsman, tattoo artists working in a tattoo studio are covered by the Miscellaneous Award. The Retail Award does not apply because there is no classification for tattoo work in that award. Your classification under the Miscellaneous Award depends on your duties and qualifications.

Do I get superannuation as a tattoo artist?

Yes. The superannuation guarantee requires your employer to pay 12% of your ordinary time earnings into a super fund on top of your base pay. This applies to most employees, including tattoo artists, regardless of whether you are paid under an award or the national minimum wage.

Can a tattoo artist be paid less than the national minimum wage?

Generally no, but there are exceptions. Junior employees (under 21), apprentices, and trainees may be paid a lower percentage of the adult rate. The Miscellaneous Award also allows an introductory rate for the first 6 months of employment, which from 1 July 2026 is $25.74 per hour. Your award or enterprise agreement may set a higher minimum, so always check your classification.

Tattoo Artist Salary in Australia: Award Coverage and Minimum Pay

Tattoo artists in Australia are covered by the Miscellaneous Award, with minimum pay at least the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour from 1 July 2026, plus 12% superannuation.

Tattoo Artist Salary: What the Law Says

If you are searching for a "tattoo artist salary" in Australia, the first thing to understand is that there is no single published median wage for this occupation. The Australian Bureau of Statistics does not release median weekly earnings for body artists (ANZSCO 451814) because the occupation is too small to produce reliable survey data. However, the legal minimum pay is clear, and it comes from the national workplace relations system.

The Legal Minimum: National Minimum Wage and the Miscellaneous Award

The Fair Work Commission sets the national minimum wage each year. From 1 July 2026, the adult national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a 38-hour week. Casual employees receive a 25% loading, making the casual rate $33.05 per hour. These figures apply to award-free employees.

But most tattoo artists are not award-free. The Fair Work Ombudsman has confirmed that tattoo artists working in a tattoo studio are covered by the Miscellaneous Award. This award has several classification levels based on duties and qualifications. The lowest ongoing classification under the Miscellaneous Award cannot be less than the national minimum wage, but the award may set a higher rate for more skilled work. For example, a Level 3 or Level 4 classification (which may apply to experienced tattoo artists) would have a higher minimum.

From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, modern award minimum wages rose by 4.75%. The Miscellaneous Award also includes an introductory rate for the first 6 months of employment, which is $25.74 per hour or $978.10 per week. After that, the full classification rate applies.

Separating the Legal Minimum from Other Figures

It is important not to confuse the legal minimum with a survey average or a negotiated salary. Because the ABS does not publish a median for body artists, any figure you see online claiming to be the "average tattoo artist salary" is likely from a private survey or an estimate. Such figures are not official and may not reflect your situation.

Your actual pay will depend on:

Your classification under the Miscellaneous Award (based on your skill level and duties)
Any enterprise agreement that covers your workplace (which can set higher rates)
Your experience and reputation
Whether you are an employee or a contractor (contractors are not covered by awards)

Superannuation: Paid on Top

When discussing a tattoo artist salary, remember that superannuation is an employer payment on top of your base pay. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of your ordinary time earnings. For example, if you earn $26.44 per hour, your employer must also pay $3.17 per hour into your super fund. This is not deducted from your wage.

Juniors, Apprentices, and Trainees

Not every tattoo artist receives the full adult rate. Award-free junior employees have percentage-based minimums: under 16 years old get 36.8% ($9.73/h), 16 years get 47.3% ($12.51/h), 17 years get 57.8% ($15.29/h), 18 years get 68.3% ($18.06/h), 19 years get 82.5% ($21.82/h), 20 years get 97.7% ($25.84/h), and 21 and over get 100% ($26.44/h). Casual juniors receive the 25% loading on top.

If you are an apprentice or trainee, your rates follow the Miscellaneous Award or the national training wage, not the junior percentages. Always check your training contract and award.

How to Find Your Correct Rate

To determine your exact minimum pay, you need to:

Identify your classification under the Miscellaneous Award. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides guides and a pay calculator.
Check if your workplace has an enterprise agreement that overrides the award (it must be at least as beneficial).
Confirm your employment type (full-time, part-time, casual) and any applicable loadings.

For more details, see our Which minimum wage applies guide and our Rate tables for national minimum and award rates.

What If You Are Award-Free?

If you are genuinely award-free (for example, you work in a state system or your employer is not covered by the Miscellaneous Award), the national minimum wage applies. But this is rare for tattoo artists. The Fair Work Ombudsman has specifically stated that tattoo studios fall under the Miscellaneous Award.

The Bottom Line

There is no official "tattoo artist salary" figure from the ABS or ATO. Your legal minimum is set by the Miscellaneous Award, which starts at the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour (from 1 July 2026) plus 12% super. Actual earnings can be higher based on skill, experience, and negotiation. Always verify your classification and check your award or agreement.

For more on how we calculate these figures, see How the figures work.