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Permanent Cosmetics & Tattooing

Types of Degrees Permanent Cosmetics & Tattooing Majors Are Earning

Those studying Permanent Cosmetics & Tattooing may pursue degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	90

What Permanent Cosmetics & Tattooing Majors Need to Know

Coursework for Permanent Cosmetics & Tattooing emphasize a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Permanent Cosmetics & Tattooing graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

According to O*NET, a major in Permanent Cosmetics & Tattooing emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Customer and Personal Service — Importance 4.4 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.0 / 7.
• Sales and Marketing — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.4 / 7.
• Administration and Management — Importance 3.0 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Education and Training — Importance 2.9 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

Skills developed in a Permanent Cosmetics & Tattooing program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Speaking — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.4 / 7.
• Reading Comprehension — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.
• Service Orientation — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.

Abilities

Abilities most relevant to Permanent Cosmetics & Tattooing careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Near Vision — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Arm-Hand Steadiness — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
• Oral Expression — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
• Finger Dexterity — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Permanent Cosmetics & Tattooing graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	4.3 / 7
Thinking Creatively	4.2 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.0 / 7
Getting Information	4.0 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	3.9 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	3.8 / 7
Assisting and Caring for Others	3.8 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	3.8 / 7
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public	3.6 / 7
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings	3.6 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Permanent Cosmetics & Tattooing professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	—
Intuit QuickBooks	Accounting software	—
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	—
Facebook	Web page creation and editing software	—
Appointment scheduling software	Calendar and scheduling software	—
Autodesk Maya	Graphics or photo imaging software	—
Client databases	Data base user interface and query software	—
Clear Books	Accounting software	—
DatInf DigiMakeup	Graphics or photo imaging software	—
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	—
SavingFace	Graphics or photo imaging software	—
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Permanent Cosmetics & Tattooing graduates include:

• Beauty Advisor
• Hair and Makeup Designer
• Beauty Specialist
• Beauty Therapist
• TV and Film Makeup Artist (Television and Film Makeup Artist)
• Special Makeup Effects Artist
• Special Effects Makeup Artist (Special Effects MUA)
• Hair and Makeup Artist
• Makeup Artist (MUA)
• Commercial Makeup Artist (Commercial MUA)
• Prosthetic Makeup Designer
• Character Artist
• Beauty Stylist
• Body Make-Up Artist (Body MUA)
• Certified Technician (Certified Tech)

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Permanent Cosmetics & Tattooing graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Postsecondary certificate	53.7%
High school diploma or equivalent	27.2%
Some college courses	4.8%
Bachelor’s degree	4.8%
Less than a high school diploma	4.8%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	2.4%
First professional degree	2.4%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Permanent Cosmetics & Tattooing?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly female, with women earning 68.9% of Permanent Cosmetics & Tattooing degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	62	68.9%
Men	28	31.1%

How Much Do Permanent Cosmetics & Tattooing Graduates Earn?

Federal data tracks median earnings of Permanent Cosmetics & Tattooing graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$17,533
4 years	$20,210
5 years	$22,425

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $22,425 — roughly 28% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in Permanent Cosmetics & Tattooing Worth It?

On the earnings side, the federal earnings tracker, Permanent Cosmetics & Tattooing graduates earn a median of $20,210 four years after completion — about 47% below the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000). On earnings alone, this program does not show an income premium over the baseline; non-financial outcomes (career interests, certification requirements, advancement potential) are typically the stronger argument for fields in this range.

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	Annual Degrees Awarded
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services	136,936
Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General	55,875
Aesthetician/Esthetician and Skin Care Specialist	42,738
Nail Technician/Specialist and Manicurist	14,442
Barbering/Barber	12,398
Facial Treatment Specialist/Facialist	2,901
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Arts, Other	2,497
Master Aesthetician/Esthetician	1,882
Cosmetology, Barber/Styling, and Nail Instructor	1,436
Hair Styling/Stylist and Hair Design	1,386
Salon/Beauty Salon Management/Manager	514
Make-Up Artist/Specialist	426

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.