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Job outlook for pet groomers in the United States
Pet groomer job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected pet groomer job growth rate is 28% from 2018-2028.
About 101,200 new jobs for pet groomers are projected over the next decade.
Pet groomer salaries have increased 19% for pet groomers in the last 5 years.
There are over 33,718 pet groomers currently employed in the United States.
There are 63,641 active pet groomer job openings in the US.
The average pet groomer salary is $32,139.
Are pet groomer jobs in demand?
Pet groomer job and salary trends over time
Pet groomer jobs over time
Pet groomer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 33,718 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 28,934 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 31,741 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 29,859 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 28,465 | 0.01% |
Average pet groomer salary over time
Pet groomer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $32,139 | $15.45 | +5.2% |
| 2024 | $30,537 | $14.68 | +4.3% |
| 2023 | $29,280 | $14.08 | +3.5% |
| 2022 | $28,282 | $13.60 | +4.4% |
| 2021 | $27,099 | $13.03 | +4.7% |
Pet groomer jobs by state
Most common states for pet groomers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | 961,939 | 53 | 6% |
| 2 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 360 | 5% |
| 3 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 294 | 5% |
| 4 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 195 | 5% |
| 5 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 65 | 5% |
| 6 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 52 | 5% |
| 7 | Alaska | 739,795 | 39 | 5% |
| 8 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 27 | 5% |
| 9 | California | 39,536,653 | 1,428 | 4% |
| 10 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 326 | 4% |
| 11 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 298 | 4% |
| 12 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 259 | 4% |
| 13 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 228 | 4% |
| 14 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 226 | 4% |
| 15 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 131 | 4% |
| 16 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 112 | 4% |
| 17 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 64 | 4% |
| 18 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 62 | 4% |
| 19 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 43 | 4% |
| 20 | Vermont | 623,657 | 28 | 4% |
Most common cities for pet groomers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germantown | 7 | 8% | $29,766 |
| 2 | Goodyear | 4 | 5% | $31,633 |
| 3 | Palm Coast | 4 | 5% | $27,265 |
| 4 | Bowie | 3 | 5% | $29,716 |
| 5 | Lakeland | 4 | 4% | $27,314 |
| 6 | Scottsdale | 5 | 2% | $31,632 |
| 7 | Huntington Beach | 4 | 2% | $37,677 |
| 8 | Port Saint Lucie | 4 | 2% | $27,184 |
| 9 | Baltimore | 6 | 1% | $29,915 |
| 10 | Atlanta | 5 | 1% | $23,218 |
| 11 | Anchorage | 4 | 1% | $36,131 |
| 12 | Aurora | 4 | 1% | $27,877 |
| 13 | Denver | 4 | 1% | $27,919 |
| 14 | Tampa | 4 | 1% | $27,341 |
| 15 | Baton Rouge | 3 | 1% | $25,587 |
| 16 | Chicago | 5 | 0% | $32,167 |
| 17 | Los Angeles | 5 | 0% | $38,030 |
| 18 | Indianapolis | 4 | 0% | $29,993 |
Pet Groomer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of pet groomer experts
APDT
National Association of Professional Pet Sitters
Pet Sitters International
Khara Schuetzner
Certified Professional Dog Trainer Knowledge Skills Assessed Certified Nose Work InstructorAPDT
What type of skills will young Pet Groomers need?
Khara Schuetzner: They will need technology skills, communication, animal behavior knowledge, and business management. Pet ownership is on the rise; according to the American Pet Products Association, 67% percent of U.S. households own a pet.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Pet Groomers to find work opportunities?
Khara Schuetzner: Dog Training, you can find work where you are living. The Association of Professional Dog Trainers has a job board. You can become a supporting member to access it.
What general advice would you give to a Pet Groomer?
Yvette Gonzales: In this year of Covid-19, the pet care industry has taken a hit. Since pet care services are provided in-person, travel restrictions and the movement to work from home has changed the face of how our business is done. Meet and greets, which are normally done in person, may now first be done via a Zoom conference, and dog walks are now initiated via porch or driveway pick up. The lack of business and recreational travelers has very much put a halt to long trips for clients, so the pet sitting portion of businesses has come to mostly a standstill. Once the world begins to travel again, our business will see a boom as clients are anxious to get back out and travel the world, this will mean our industry will see an increase in new hires, it's also believed that many new businesses will form, as those who lost their jobs during the pandemic may now turn into entrepreneurs. Grads entering the workforce pre-vaccination will find the opportunities in pet care to be limited; however, if the desire to begin a new business venture is still appealing, now is the perfect time to get organized, begin to market their business, and be assured they won't be immediately overwhelmed with clients. It's good to begin slowly so that when the rush begins everything will operate like a finely tuned machine.
Technology has allowed pet sitters to advance their skills online as well as stay in touch with clients and colleagues this trend will continue post Covid. GPS and online scheduling programs allow for pet parents to easily book services, as well as track their sitters/pets' movements, allowing for greater ease of service and peace of mind.
What type of skills will young Pet Groomers need?
Yvette Gonzales: Now and forever, graduates will need to possess excellent communication skills, both written and face to face. This includes high-level listening and critical thinking abilities. Also, any training in Pet First Aid/ CPR, dog/cat behavior, and animal communication are very welcome. Basic accounting and business management are also pluses.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Pet Groomers to find work opportunities?
Yvette Gonzales: The wonderful thing about the pet care field is that the need is great everywhere in the U.S. People have pets in urban, suburban, and rural areas.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Pet Groomers?
Yvette Gonzales: Although things may be slower for the near future while they wait for widespread vaccinations to become available, I believe our industry will continue to go and thrive.
What experience really stands out on Pet Groomer resumes?
Beth Stultz-Hairston: Experience with a variety of pet types is a big plus, as is a knowledge of basic pet behavior. While prior pet-sitting experience (or animal-care experience such as volunteering at a shelter or pet rescue) is a plus, soft skills are very important-and should be highlighted when sharing details on past work experience on your resume. Good customer-service skills, attention to detail, strong interpersonal skills, effective time management, and the ability to work independently are qualities that would appeal to hiring managers at pet-care companies.