Pen rider vs groom

The differences between pen riders and grooms can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a pen rider has an average salary of $50,738, which is higher than the $30,872 average annual salary of a groom.

The top three skills for a pen rider include stray animals, yard maintenance and computer system. The most important skills for a groom are PET, clipping, and animal handling.

Pen rider vs groom overview

	Pen Rider	Groom
Yearly salary	$50,738	$30,872
Hourly rate	$24.39	$14.84
Growth rate	1%	1%
Number of jobs	3,091	9,302
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 37%	High School Diploma, 38%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	-	-

What does a pen rider do?

A pen rider looks after a large herd of cattle, usually in a ranch setting, by monitoring and moving the cattle in a pen. Modern pen riders are trained animal care specialists who must also be excellent on horseback. Pen riders monitor animals for sickness or distress and isolate the sick from a herd for care. They are also responsible for moving herds through different pens for feeding, veterinary services, milking, and any other farm operation.

What does a groom do?

A groom is primarily in charge of maintaining the hygiene and appearance of pets. Typically working at grooming shops, a groom liaises with pet owners to identify their preferences, observe the pet's condition to identify its needs, and explain the extent of procedures to pet owners. They may bathe and cut a pet's hair or nails, even brush its teeth and recommend care procedures to clients. Furthermore, as a groom, it is essential to be proactive and alert as some pets' behaviors are unpredictable.

Pen rider vs groom salary

Pen riders and grooms have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Pen Rider	Groom
Average salary	$50,738	$30,872
Salary range	Between $24,000 And $106,000	Between $22,000 And $43,000
Highest paying City	-	Natick, MA
Highest paying state	-	Hawaii
Best paying company	-	Dartmouth
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between pen rider and groom education

There are a few differences between a pen rider and a groom in terms of educational background:

	Pen Rider	Groom
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 37%	High School Diploma, 38%
Most common major	Animal Science	Business
Most common college	-	-

Pen rider vs groom demographics

Here are the differences between pen riders' and grooms' demographics:

	Pen Rider	Groom
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 75.3% Female, 24.7%	Male, 19.3% Female, 80.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 4.4% Unknown, 3.1% Hispanic or Latino, 23.6% Asian, 1.8% White, 66.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%	Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 3.1% Hispanic or Latino, 25.7% Asian, 1.8% White, 63.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage	3%	3%

Differences between pen rider and groom duties and responsibilities

Pen rider example responsibilities.

Review water orders and contact customers determining total CFS need daily.
Review water orders and contact customers determining total CFS need daily.

Groom example responsibilities.

Manage all breeding, whelping, raising of puppies, grooming and showing of dogs for owners in the AKC.
Provide excellent customer service and interact with pet parents.
Perform all grooming procedures including bath, brush, clips, and shave downs.
Toe nail clips, ear cleanings, and also extensive de sheds and mat removal.
Perform animal grooming such as washing, brushing, trimming coats, cutting nails, and cleaning ears.
Answer calls, make grooming appointments, wash and dry dogs, trim/ grind nails, brush coats appropriately

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Pen rider vs groom skills

Common pen rider skills

Stray Animals, 91%
Yard Maintenance, 6%
Computer System, 3%

Common groom skills

PET, 71%
Clipping, 11%
Animal Handling, 4%
Pet Care, 3%
Compassion, 3%
Customer Satisfaction, 3%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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