Become a Tattoo Artist in Wichita, Kansas

Tattoo Artists in Wichita earn an average of $105,481 a year, according to ZipRecruiter, close to the national average. Housing costs 35% less than the U.S. average. To get licensed, Kansas requires at least 1,200 hours of training with an approved trainer and 50 completed tattoos. Most people take 18 to 24 months to become job-ready through a structured tattoo apprenticeship.

This guide covers what the work pays in Wichita, how Kansas licensing works, and each step to getting started. Ink Different Tattoos offers its Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship in 60+ locations nationwide. We’re building our Wichita Mentor network now, and you can apply today to be first in line.

What does it take to become a Tattoo Artist in Wichita, Kansas?

It takes structured training with a licensed Mentor, safety training and real time spent building skill, usually over 18 to 24 months.

Talent alone won’t get you behind a tattoo machine. A real path will: learning line work, shading, color theory, machine handling, sterilization and client care from someone who has done it. You build the foundation first, then the skills strong enough to carry a career.

To avoid common pitfalls, read about the mistakes aspiring tattoo apprentices should avoid before you ever pick up a tattoo machine.

Why is Wichita a smart place to start your tattoo career?

Wichita offers income close to the national average for Tattoo Artists, some of the cheapest housing of any major U.S. city, and a fast-growing convention scene.

Start with income. As of October 2026, Tattoo Artists in Wichita earn an average of $105,481 a year, according to ZipRecruiter. Most earn between $42,900 and $79,000, and established Tattoo Artists with a full book earn much more.

Your money goes a long way here. The cost of living in Wichita is 13% lower than the national average, according to RentCafe, and housing is 35% cheaper than the U.S. average.

The local tattoo community is growing fast. The Wichita Emerald City Tattoo Convention held its third edition at Kansas Star Casino in Mulvane in October 2026. The year before, it packed the venue with over 140 Tattoo Artists from across the country.

Your nearest studio today

Our closest tattoo studio to Wichita is in Oklahoma City, about 160 miles south on I-35. If you’re open to the drive or a move, you can apply to train there now. Oklahoma has its own licensing rules, so our team will walk you through how training there fits with what Kansas requires.

What are the tattoo licensing requirements in Kansas?

Kansas licenses every Tattoo Artist through the Kansas Board of Cosmetology. You qualify through a board-approved training program, then pass the state exam.

Here’s what Kansas requires:

• Training with an approved trainer: Your training must be directly supervised by a trainer licensed by the board or another state.
• Hours and procedures: At least 1,200 hours of training with 50 completed procedures, according to the Kansas Board of Cosmetology.
• Infection control training: Eight hours of board-approved continuing education in infection control and bloodborne pathogens.
• Renewal: Every two years, with five more hours of continuing education.

Kansas also limits each trainer to one trainee at a time, so you get focused attention.

Safety is part of every step. You’ll learn the OSHA bloodborne pathogens standard, and the American Academy of Dermatology tattoo care guidelines are a reliable resource for client aftercare.

Pro Tip: Confirm current requirements with the Kansas Board of Cosmetology before you start tattooing clients.

How do you become a Tattoo Artist in Wichita step by step?

Build your art fundamentals, find a qualified Mentor, complete your 1,200 hours, finish your infection control training, then pass the Kansas exam.

• Step one: Build your art foundation. Practice drawing, line control and shading daily. You don’t need a degree, just commitment.
• Step two: Find a qualified Mentor. Train with a licensed Tattoo Artist approved as a trainer, not through a weekend crash course.
• Step three: Complete your training. Move from synthetic skin to supervised live clients, logging at least 1,200 hours and 50 tattoos.
• Step four: Complete infection control training. Finish the eight hours of board-approved training and master sterilization.
• Step five: Get licensed. Pass the Kansas exam and apply to the Board of Cosmetology.
• Step six: Build your brand. Grow a portfolio and following with our list of platforms to help tattoo artists build their brand.

Can you become a Tattoo Artist with no experience?

Yes. A structured tattoo apprenticeship teaches drawing, machine handling and safety from the ground up.

Many talented people talk themselves out of this career because they think they started too late or never went to art school. That voice is wrong. Every great Tattoo Artist was once a beginner who kept going.

The right Mentor doesn’t expect you to arrive polished, just motivated. We start with the fundamentals and the tools every beginner tattoo artist should know, then build your confidence one skill at a time.

Why is tattooing an AI-proof career?

Tattooing needs human hands, trust and real-time judgment on living skin. None of that can be automated or outsourced.

A machine can’t sit with a grieving client to design a memorial piece, adapt to the curve of a shoulder, or build the trust a permanent tattoo requires. Human touch is the whole point.

We dig into this more in our piece on why tattoo artists are still essential.  

What does Ink Different’s Tattoo Apprenticeship Program offer?

Ink Different’s Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship takes 18 to 24 months across four phases. You get 1:1 mentorship, licensing support, interest-free payment plans and a guaranteed job offer at one of our tattoo studios.

We built Ink Different Tattoos as a real alternative to college. Since 2011, we’ve guided Tattoo Apprentices from their first shaky line to a confident career. Ink Different Tattoos now offers its Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship in 60+ locations nationwide, and we’re actively expanding into new cities like Wichita. Here’s what you get:

• Four phases: Drawing and design, hygiene and safety, machine work, then supervised work with real clients in a professional tattoo studio.
• Beginner-friendly: No experience needed.
• 1:1 mentorship: Live, in-person guidance from an experienced Mentor.
• Interest-free payment plans: Spread the cost while you train.
• Licensing support: Help with Kansas’s hours, procedures and exam.
• Good Humans culture: A family-like community that has your back.

This is a career that comes with confidence, because you’ll know you’re ready. You finish with job-ready skills and a guaranteed job offer at one of our tattoo studios. 

What is the Master Mentorship program?

Master Mentorship is a one-year, in-person intensive where beginner and experienced Tattoo Artists train with award-winning Master Mentors. You master a specific style, grow your brand and work toward owning a tattoo studio.

You train with our Master Mentors: Al Fliction, Liz Cook, Kyle Dunbar, Boneface and Jordi Pla. Each has helped shape the industry.

It’s built for intensive skill development, whether you want to specialize or open your own tattoo studio one day.

Ready to become a Tattoo Artist?

You can keep driving to the job that drains you, or start building a craft technology can’t replace. You know the path now: a Mentor, Kansas’s 1,200 hours and the state exam.

We’re matching Tattoo Apprentices in Wichita now. Apply now to Ink Different’s Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship today to be first in line for a Wichita Mentor, or ask about training at our Oklahoma City tattoo studio. Not sure yet? Book a call or fill out our quick questionnaire for personalized support.