Post job

Kennel attendant vs bather

The differences between kennel attendants and bathers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-3 months to become both a kennel attendant and a bather. Additionally, a bather has an average salary of $31,051, which is higher than the $26,373 average annual salary of a kennel attendant.

The top three skills for a kennel attendant include PET, animal handling and facility laundry. The most important skills for a bather are PET, check-in, and customer satisfaction.

Kennel attendant vs bather overview

Kennel AttendantBather
Yearly salary$26,373$31,051
Hourly rate$12.68$14.93
Growth rate28%28%
Number of jobs72,23956,255
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 37%High School Diploma, 48%
Average age3232
Years of experience33

What does a kennel attendant do?

A kennel attendant is responsible for the daily care of boarded dogs and kennel maintenance. Some of the duties that you will perform will include cleaning cages, scheduling boarding appointments, and monitoring the behavior of these dogs. In addition, it is your responsibility to clean spilled food and animal waste and to dispose of trash on time. Other duties include walking animals if required, ensuring that the animals are always comfortable, and evacuating them when an emergency arises.

What does a bather do?

A bather typically works at veterinary clinics and pet grooming establishments where they are primarily in charge of bathing animals, particularly cats and dogs. They are responsible for ensuring that the animals are comfortable with the water temperature, using particular soap and shampoo, drying fur, and adhering to the pet owner's other requests. They may also cut toenails, comb and brush coat, and administer particular products when necessary. Moreover, as a bather, it is essential to be proactive in dealing with issues and temperamental pets.

Kennel attendant vs bather salary

Kennel attendants and bathers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Kennel AttendantBather
Average salary$26,373$31,051
Salary rangeBetween $20,000 And $34,000Between $22,000 And $42,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between kennel attendant and bather education

There are a few differences between a kennel attendant and a bather in terms of educational background:

Kennel AttendantBather
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 37%High School Diploma, 48%
Most common majorMedical Assisting ServicesMedical Assisting Services
Most common collegeVermont Technical CollegeVermont Technical College

Kennel attendant vs bather demographics

Here are the differences between kennel attendants' and bathers' demographics:

Kennel AttendantBather
Average age3232
Gender ratioMale, 20.8% Female, 79.2%Male, 14.2% Female, 85.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.4% Unknown, 6.4% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 2.7% White, 67.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 6.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 2.6% White, 68.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between kennel attendant and bather duties and responsibilities

Kennel attendant example responsibilities.

  • Assist in managing shelter for animals and arranging for adoption or euthanasia of confiscate animals.
  • Train to give dogs baths, brushing out coats, scissoring, and toenails.
  • Perform animal grooming duties such as washing, brushing, clipping, and trimming coats, etc.
  • Experience in the use of specialize equipment such as cage washers, autoclaves and animal transport vehicles.
  • Assist owner in preforming body clips and bathing/drying dogs and cats, preform all grooming tasks including clipper skills except scissoring.
  • Operate cage/bottle washers, autoclaves and bedding dispensing/disposal equipment.
  • Show more

Bather example responsibilities.

  • Manage all breeding, whelping, raising of puppies, grooming and showing of dogs for owners in the AKC.
  • Advise customers on proper pet nutrition, and pick a proper shampoo program to ensure healthy coats for individual pets.
  • Sustain pet care excellence in a dynamic and fast-pace environment
  • Read written or receive oral instructions to determine clipping pattern desire.
  • Detail orient work and recognizing signs of rashes, allergies and potential behavioral problems in dogs.
  • Bathe dogs, clip/ground nails, clean ears, brush teeth and shave paw pads/sanitary area, express anal glands.
  • Show more

Kennel attendant vs bather skills

Common kennel attendant skills
  • PET, 39%
  • Animal Handling, 10%
  • Facility Laundry, 8%
  • Animal Hospital, 5%
  • Animal Restraint, 4%
  • Administer Medications, 4%
Common bather skills
  • PET, 79%
  • Check-In, 7%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 5%
  • Compassion, 4%
  • Book Appointments, 2%
  • Develop Long Term, 1%

Browse personal care and attendants jobs