How to hire a pet groomer

How to hire a pet groomer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step pet groomer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a pet groomer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new pet groomer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the pet groomer you need to hire. Certain pet groomer roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect pet groomer also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list shows salaries for various types of pet groomers.

   Type of Pet Groomer	Description	Hourly rate
   Pet Groomer	Animal care and service workers provide care for animals. They feed, groom, bathe, and exercise pets and other nonfarm animals... Show more	$10-23
   Animal Attendant	An animal attendant is responsible for administering high-quality care for the animals in a shelter, clinic, or wildlife preserve. Animal attendants monitor the health conditions of the animals, manage their food intake and medications, maintain the adequacy of animal stock inventories, and report any critical findings and unusual observations to the veterinarians... Show more	$9-16
   Animal Care Technician	An animal care technician is an animal medical professional who is responsible for providing care to animals in the clinical or research setting. Animal care technicians take blood or stool samples from animals and run laboratory tests to determine the cause of an ailment... Show more	$10-19

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • PET
   • Dryers
   • Pet Care
   • Salon Services
   • Cleanliness
   • Customer Service
   • Pet Parents
   • Appointment Scheduling
   • Cash Handling
   • Coats
   • Clipping
   • Animal Handling
   • Sales Floor
   • Reminder Calls

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Achieve detailed grooming including skin, ear, nail care, coat clips and dental care.
   • Manage all breeding, whelping, raising of puppies, grooming and showing of dogs for owners in the AKC.
   • Perform animal grooming duties such as washing, brushing, clipping and trimming coats, cutting nail and cleaning ears.
   • Dedicate to building rapport with pet owners by proving excellent customer service and individualize care.
   • Experience with dogs, cats, birds, chickens, pigs, and sheep.
   • Take care of the delivery of small pets such as: fish, guinea pigs, reptiles, etc.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your pet groomer job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A pet groomer can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, pet groomers' average salary in georgia is 43% less than in oregon.
   • Seniority. Entry-level pet groomers 56% less than senior-level pet groomers.
   • Certifications. A pet groomer with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a pet groomer's salary.

   Average pet groomer salary

   $15.45hourly

   $32,139 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level pet groomer salary

   $21,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

4. Writing a pet groomer job description

   A pet groomer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a pet groomer job description:

   Pet groomer job description example

   C ome work at a place where innovation and teamwork come together to support the most exciting missions in the world!
   What you'll do:
   
   - Deliver customer service and grooming services to customer that align with our brand promise.
   
   - Responsible for the welfare of all live animals within the department.
   
   - Report to the General Manager and collaborate to drive the business.
   
   This job is composed of a variety of different tasks that are covered by operational guidelines, and while individual judgment may occasionally be required in order to complete assigned tasks; most questions are directed to either the Grooming Salon Manager or the General Manager.
   
   Essential Job Functions:
   
   The incumbent must be able to consistently perform all of the following duties and responsibilities with or without a reasonable accommodation.
   
   - Provide quick and courteous service to all customers by utilizing the GUEST+ model in the salon.
   
   - Ensure OSE standards are maintained in the department - Interact professionally and effectively through verbal and written communication with all professional contacts with emphasis on company interests.
   
   - Professionally perform basic grooming services on animals as requested by customers and in accordance with company policy and procedure, ensuring the safety and well-being of each animal - Interest in animal welfare.
   
   - Move animals and merchandise up to 30 pounds.
   
   - Utilize grooming instruments including shears and dryers.
   
   - Perform grooming services per customer instructions, ensuring the safety and well-being of animals.
   
   - Adhere to all Policies and Procedures.
   
   Supervisory Responsibility:
   
   May provide guidance to Grooming Assistant(s) or other Pet Stylists Apprentice(s) in department. May also test potential applicants for grooming procedures and evaluate skills and other job related tasks.
   
   Work Environment:
   
   The majority of job duties are conducted indoors in the grooming salon. Position requires bending, kneeling, lifting(up to 30 pounds, as necessary) and standing for long periods of time. A large amount of this partner's time will be spent in direct contact with our customers and their dogs and the remaining time will be with the PSA's and other salon partners. The work environment can be noisy and wet.
   
   Petco Animal Supplies, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or any other protected classification.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right pet groomer for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with pet groomers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit pet groomers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your pet groomer job on Zippia to find and recruit pet groomer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit pet groomers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new pet groomer

   Once you've selected the best pet groomer candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new pet groomer. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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