1. University of Massachusetts Amherst
Amherst, MA • Private
In-State Tuition
$15,887
Enrollment
23,202
What is a Dog Groomer?
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a dog groomer. For example, did you know that they make an average of $15.35 an hour? That's $31,920 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 16% and produce 51,700 job opportunities across the U.S.
What Does a Dog Groomer Do
There are certain skills that many dog groomers have in order to accomplish their responsibilities. By taking a look through resumes, we were able to narrow down the most common skills for a person in this position. We discovered that a lot of resumes listed compassion, customer-service skills and detail oriented.
How To Become a Dog Groomer
If you're interested in becoming a dog groomer, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 20.1% of dog groomers have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 1.4% of dog groomers have master's degrees. Even though some dog groomers have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.
Dog Groomer Career Paths
In addition to switching up your job search, it might prove helpful to look at a career path for your specific job. Now, what's a career path you ask? Well, it's practically a map that shows how you might advance from one job title to another. Our career paths are especially detailed with salary changes. So, for example, if you started out with the role of housekeeper you might progress to a role such as driver eventually. Later on in your career, you could end up with the title owner.
Dog Groomer
Owner
7 Years
Operations Manager
7 Years
General Manager
6 Years
Account Manager
5 Years
Branch Manager
6 Years
Sales Manager
5 Years
Show More
Average Salary for a Dog Groomer
Dog Groomers in America make an average salary of $31,920 per year or $15 per hour. The top 10 percent makes over $45,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent under $22,000 per year.
Average Dog Groomer Salary
$31,920 Yearly$15.35 hourly
What Am I Worth?
Roles and Types of Dog Groomer
There are several types of dog groomer, including:
Animal Daycare Provider
Role:
It does not get any more fun than this. As an animal daycare provider, you get to hang out all day with a bunch of pets that their owners drop off on their way to work; feeding and entertaining them, taking them on walks, and supervising their playtime.
You get trained on the job to get up to speed with safety measures, what to do with aggressive dogs, and how to restrain the ones that go overboard. You will learn how to spot an injury and know when it is time to call a vet. You will have to feed the babies... ahem, I mean animals, clean their spaces indoors and outdoors, and give medications to the ones who need them.
Animal daycare providers might have to work odd hours, early mornings, and late nights, weekends, and holidays. But on the upside, part-time options are usually available. Getting bitten or scratched and stepping in poo is part of the package, but if you love animals, none of this will be too much of a problem.
- Average Salary: $30,390
- Degree: High School Diploma
Kennel Attendant
Role:
The role of a Kennel Attendant, also known as a Kennel Assistant, as the name implies, is to provide care, such as food, warmth, and water, to animals found in shelters and veterinary clinics and centers.
Their tasks might range from simple ones to more complicated ones. They often transport animals from one kennel to another, check on animals regularly, clean up around the kennel and the center, providing company to these animals so that they do not feel mistreated or lonely, and reporting on the animals' health and state, should any change occur, to higher management or the local veterinarian.
A prospect in this field should have a high school diploma or a GED. Prior experience with animals and animal care is always preferred but not necessarily a must. Strong organizational skills and a strong passion for animal welfare are key to doing well in this position.
- Average Salary: $26,373
- Degree: High School Diploma
Pet Sitter
Role:
A pet sitter is someone who cares for a pet in its home while the owner is away. It could also include taking the pet on a walk. A pet sitter is responsible for providing food and water, brushing fur and teeth in the case of dog and cat, walking dogs, and cleaning litter boxes. They also give medications when necessary and take the pets to the vet if they suffer an injury or become sick while pet sitting them. Working as a pet sitter may sometimes require that you stay overnight at the owner's home so that you can let pets out for regular bathroom breaks.
To be a successful pet sitter, you should have a good rapport with animals. You should also be reliable and trustworthy, and you must have interpersonal skills, communication skills, and a love for animals. Pet sitters are not required to have any formal education but must be familiar with all the aspects of caring for pets. The median annual salary of a pet sitter is $23,760.
- Average Salary: $25,823
- Degree: Bachelor's Degree
States With The Most Dog Groomer Jobs
Number Of Dog Groomer Jobs By State
| Rank | State | Number of Jobs | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 1,417 | $37,683 |
| 2 | Texas | 771 | $24,490 |
| 3 | Florida | 762 | $27,514 |
| 4 | New York | 558 | $33,629 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 511 | $30,245 |
| 6 | Illinois | 497 | $30,835 |
| 7 | Ohio | 392 | $23,519 |
| 8 | Washington | 381 | $36,005 |
| 9 | North Carolina | 369 | $26,977 |
| 10 | Virginia | 354 | $26,334 |
| 11 | Georgia | 345 | $23,131 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | 338 | $36,231 |
| 13 | Michigan | 334 | $28,511 |
| 14 | New Jersey | 329 | $29,626 |
| 15 | Maryland | 311 | $28,650 |
| 16 | Colorado | 272 | $29,523 |
| 17 | Arizona | 249 | $32,547 |
| 18 | Missouri | 240 | $28,892 |
| 19 | Minnesota | 227 | $33,689 |
| 20 | Tennessee | 226 | $23,255 |
| 21 | Indiana | 222 | $29,170 |
| 22 | Connecticut | 215 | $29,434 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | 205 | $29,187 |
| 24 | South Carolina | 169 | $23,586 |
| 25 | Louisiana | 154 | $25,927 |
| 26 | Oregon | 149 | $40,216 |
| 27 | Alabama | 146 | $25,484 |
| 28 | Utah | 119 | $31,363 |
| 29 | Oklahoma | 115 | $29,346 |
| 30 | Kentucky | 105 | $34,972 |
| 31 | Arkansas | 104 | $26,953 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | 102 | $33,005 |
| 33 | Kansas | 96 | $28,857 |
| 34 | Iowa | 95 | $29,915 |
| 35 | Nevada | 78 | $33,325 |
| 36 | Mississippi | 75 | $28,212 |
| 37 | Idaho | 70 | $35,688 |
| 38 | Hawaii | 65 | $29,375 |
| 39 | Rhode Island | 62 | $33,565 |
| 40 | Montana | 58 | $28,088 |
| 41 | New Mexico | 57 | $25,176 |
| 42 | Delaware | 56 | $33,761 |
| 43 | West Virginia | 54 | $36,113 |
| 44 | Maine | 52 | $34,383 |
| 45 | Alaska | 39 | $35,122 |
| 46 | Nebraska | 39 | $30,118 |
| 47 | North Dakota | 26 | $35,636 |
| 48 | Wyoming | 25 | $30,916 |
| 49 | Vermont | 22 | $31,490 |
| 50 | South Dakota | 19 | $30,730 |
Top Colleges for Dog Groomers
2. Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX • Private
In-State Tuition
$9,080
Enrollment
30,795
3. Vermont Technical College
Randolph, VT • Private
In-State Tuition
$15,108
Enrollment
1,350
4. Texas A&M University - Commerce
Commerce, TX • Private
In-State Tuition
$8,748
Enrollment
8,201
5. North Dakota State University
Fargo, ND • Private
In-State Tuition
$9,414
Enrollment
11,182
6. Saint Francis University
Loretto, PA • Private
In-State Tuition
$36,410
Enrollment
1,668
7. The University of Findlay
Findlay, OH • Private
In-State Tuition
$34,360
Enrollment
2,533
8. West Texas A&M University
Canyon, TX • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,935
Enrollment
7,368
9. Post University
Waterbury, CT • Private
In-State Tuition
$16,610
Enrollment
9,017
10. Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO • Private
In-State Tuition
$11,707
Enrollment
24,210
Top Skills For a Dog Groomer
The skills section on your resume can be almost as important as the experience section, so you want it to be an accurate portrayal of what you can do. Luckily, we've found all of the skills you'll need so even if you don't have these skills yet, you know what you need to work on. Out of all the resumes we looked through, 56.5% of dog groomers listed pet on their resume, but soft skills such as compassion and customer-service skills are important as well.
Choose From 10+ Customizable Dog Groomer Resume templates
Zippia allows you to choose from different easy-to-use Dog Groomer templates, and provides you with expert advice. Using the templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your Dog Groomer resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.
Dog Groomer diversity
Dog Groomer Gender Distribution
Female
85%
Male
16%
After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
- Among dog groomers, 84.5% of them are women, while 15.5% are men.
- The most common race/ethnicity among dog groomers is White, which makes up 68.0% of all dog groomers.
- The most common foreign language among dog groomers is Spanish at 82.5%.
Online Courses For Dog Groomer That You May Like
Advertising Disclosure
1. The Truth About Cats and Dogs
What is your cat revealing to you when she purrs? What is your dog expressing when he yawns or wags his tail? Understanding your cat and dog’s behaviour and the way they communicate with you, will enable you to better understand their needs and strengthen your relationship with them. This MOOC is divided into five topics, the appliance of science; behaviour and body language, senses and perception; challenges for the human-animal relationship, including pet problem behaviour; and how to improve...
2. Dog Emotion and Cognition
Dog Emotion and Cognition will introduce you to the exciting new study of dog psychology, what the latest discoveries tell us about how dogs think and feel about us, and how we can use this new knowledge to further strengthen our relationship with our best friends...
3. Dog Training - Become A Dog Trainer - Dog Training Career
Turn dog training into an ideal career & become a professional dog trainer. Get the lifestyle you want & work with dogs...
Job type you want
Full Time
Part Time
Internship
Temporary
How Do Dog Groomers Rate Their Jobs?
Top Dog Groomer Employers
Most Common Employers For Dog Groomer
| Rank | Company | Average Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | VCA Animal Hospitals | $34,132 | $16.41 | 6 |
| 2 | The Animal Medical Center | $33,955 | $16.32 | 3 |
| 3 | Centennial BOCES | $32,563 | $15.66 | 2 |
| 4 | Aussie Pet Mobile | $32,131 | $15.45 | 20 |
| 5 | Wag | $32,043 | $15.41 | 3 |
| 6 | *n/a* | $32,041 | $15.40 | 4 |
| 7 | Polished Inc | $32,003 | $15.39 | 4 |
| 8 | Camp Bow Wow | $31,977 | $15.37 | 6 |
| 9 | Bubble | $31,966 | $15.37 | 7 |
| 10 | Healthy Spot | $31,943 | $15.36 | 11 |
Dog Groomer Videos
Grooming Guide - How to groom a dog that bites - Pro Groomer
A day in the life of a dog groomer
How I Became The Dog Groomer
Becoming a Dog Groomer FAQs
What Are Careers In Dog Grooming?
A dog groomer, front desk attendant, and business owner are all careers in dog grooming. There are many different aspects to running a dog grooming business, and while they all require different skills, they all need you to have a passion for animals.
Have more questions? See all answers to common personal care and attendants questions.