How to become a Body Artist

Decorates, adorns or modifies the human body permanently or temporarily using a range of techniques such as tattooing, piercing and skin modification.

Main tasks

• Consults with clients to determine their desired body art design
• Prepares clients' skin for the chosen body art technique
• Applies permanent tattoos by inserting ink under layers of skin
• Paints or dyes skin to create temporary body art designs
• Pierces skin to implant jewellery and other biocompatible materials
• Modifies the shape of the skin through cutting, branding, manipulating, stretching and scarring techniques
• Uses scalpel, heat and restraining techniques to create patterns in the skin

Ways in

• TAFE and VET: Diploma of Cosmetic Tattooing (SHB50321); Diploma of Beauty Therapy (SHB50121)
• Licence or registration: Registration or licensing may be required.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• About 21,000 people work in this job group now, and about 23,500 are projected by 2035. (+11.5%)
• AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Body Artist?

Ways in include: Diploma of Cosmetic Tattooing; Diploma of Beauty Therapy.

Is a Body Artist a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 12% by 2035, from about 21,000 to about 23,500 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become a Body Artist?

Usually not. Only 12% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Diploma of Cosmetic Tattooing; Diploma of Beauty Therapy.

Will AI change the work of a Body Artist?

AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Sources

• Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04