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Permanent Cosmetics & Tattooing

Types of Degrees Permanent Cosmetics & Tattooing Majors Are Earning

Students pursuing Permanent Cosmetics & Tattooing can earn 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

This major prepares you for careers needing 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 emphasized by 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
Appointment scheduling software	Calendar and scheduling software	—
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	—
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	—
Intuit QuickBooks	Accounting software	—
Facebook	Web page creation and editing software	—
Email software	Electronic mail software	—
Clear Books	Accounting software	—
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	—
Autodesk Mudbox	Graphics or photo imaging software	—
Adobe Photoshop	Graphics or photo imaging software	—
SavingFace	Graphics or photo imaging software	—
Client databases	Data base user interface and query software	—

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

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Permanent Cosmetics & Tattooing graduates include:

• Hair and Makeup Designer
• Beauty Therapist
• Beauty Specialist
• Beauty Advisor
• Special Effects Makeup Artist (Special Effects MUA)
• Lash Artist (Eyelash Artist)
• Eyelash Technician (Eyelash Tech)
• Body Make-Up Artist (Body MUA)
• Makeup Worker
• Special Makeup Effects Artist
• Makeup Artist (MUA)
• Certified Technician (Certified Tech)
• Beauty Stylist
• Hair and Makeup Artist
• Commercial Makeup Artist (Commercial MUA)

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?

College Scorecard reports median earnings of Permanent Cosmetics & Tattooing graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb 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?

Looking purely at 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	CIP Code
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services	12.04
Aesthetician/Esthetician and Skin Care Specialist	12.0409
Barbering/Barber	12.0402
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Arts, Other	12.0499
Cosmetology, Barber/Styling, and Nail Instructor	12.0413
Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General	12.0401
Electrolysis/Electrology and Electrolysis Technician	12.0404
Facial Treatment Specialist/Facialist	12.0408
Hair Styling/Stylist and Hair Design	12.0407
Make-Up Artist/Specialist	12.0406
Master Aesthetician/Esthetician	12.0414
Nail Technician/Specialist and Manicurist	12.0410

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.