How to hire a pet sitter

How to hire a pet sitter, step by step

Here's a step-by-step pet sitter 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 sitter job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new pet sitter
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a pet sitter do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the pet sitter you need to hire. Certain pet sitter 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

   A pet sitter's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, pet sitters from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of pet sitters and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Pet Sitter	Description	Hourly rate
   Pet Sitter	Animal care and service workers provide care for animals. They feed, groom, bathe, and exercise pets and other nonfarm animals... Show more	$4-29
   Nanny	Nannies are family employees who are primarily responsible for taking care of children in the family's house. They are usually tapped to take care of the kids while the parents are at work or away on vacation... Show more	$12-29
   Companion	A companion is responsible for assisting sick and recovered patients, as well as the elderly. Companions perform housekeeping duties, ensuring that a facility is well-maintained and safe for the use of the patients... Show more	$10-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • PET
   • Walkers
   • Clients Homes
   • CPR
   • Topical Medications
   • Litter Boxes
   • Administer Medications
   • Water Plants
   • Fresh Water
   • Quality Care
   • Animal Safety
   • Insulin Injections
   • Pigs
   • Mental Health

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Help managed the company and train new walkers
   • Cat and dog feeding, medicine, dog walking, cleanup; 5 animals : 3 cats , 2 dogs.
   • Provide constant supervision and companionship for elopement risk and suicide precaution patients.
   • Provide care for dogs, fish, cats, bunnies, birds, snakes, hamsters and most other household pets.
   • Execute cash register POS system.
   • Specialize in extra TLC for elderly pets.

   More pet sitter duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the pet sitter job description is a good way to get more applicants. A pet sitter salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a pet sitter in Montana may be lower than in Rhode Island, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level pet sitter. Additionally, a pet sitter with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average pet sitter salary

   $12.41hourly

   $25,823 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level pet sitter salary

   $10,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 3, 2026

   Average pet sitter salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Rhode Island	$35,013	$17
   2	Idaho	$28,920	$14
   3	Utah	$27,412	$13
   4	California	$26,634	$13
   5	North Carolina	$25,056	$12
   6	Washington	$25,054	$12
   7	Georgia	$20,944	$10

   Average pet sitter salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	CARE	$30,190	$14.51
   2	Chicago Urban League	$27,125	$13.04
   3	Fetch! Pet Care	$26,285	$12.64	1
   4	Rover Holdings Corp	$26,274	$12.63	3
   5	The Emily Program	$26,168	$12.58

4. Writing a pet sitter job description

   A job description for a pet sitter role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a pet sitter job description:

   Pet sitter job description example

   Do you love pets? Like to be active and outdoors? Want to earn some extra income? Are you available during the day?
   Fetch! Pet Care is looking for you as we hire professional pet sitters for dog walking and pet sitting assignments in Loveland and surrounding areas. We currently need people who can work up to a few hours per day during the day Monday - Friday and the occasional weekend. Hours are typically from 10 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This is a great opportunity for stay-at-home parents, retired or semi-retired individuals. You must be friendly, reliable, honest, and able to walk dogs and care for pets in their owner’s homes. If you are passionate about providing quality pet care and top-notch fun this is the job for you! At Fetch! Pet Care , we’re not just animal lovers, we’re a growing business that is dedicated to providing stable, well-paying jobs in our community. With tens of thousands of satisfied clients nationwide, we’ve earned a solid reputation as the most trusted and reliable pet care service in the country. We are a locally-owned franchise servicing Longmont, Loveland, Golden, Boulder, Brighton, Firestone, and other areas of Colorado. If you live in the following areas, we’d like you to JOIN our TEAM! Apply to be a Pet Sitter in your area - Fetch! Pet Care (fetchpetcare.com) What we offer:
   • $13-19 hourly rate
   • Part-time - Flexible schedules (mornings, afternoons, or late afternoons)
   • Fun and engaging work with pets/ animals
   • Client referral bonuses
   • Bonuses for five-star reviews Job Responsibilities and Duties:
   • Walk dogs as scheduled; take them on engaged and attentive walking routes
   • Ensure pet’s physical safety at all times
   • Dispose of animal waste
   • Observe pets’ behavior
   • Babysit pets, play with them, provide them food and water
   • Follow any special instructions or limitations that pet owners provided
   • Report any concerning issues to clients
   • Follow safety protocols according to brand standards and training
   • Assess situations accurately, calmly, and be able to respond quickly
   • Attend occasional promotional events outside Job Requirements & Qualifications:
   • Be at least 18 years of age
   • Genuinely love and have experience caring for pets
   • With a great personality, responsible and trustworthy
   • Able to work in the areas we service
   • Midday availability from Monday through Friday, as well as some weekends and evenings
   • Should be comfortable walking and controlling the leash of all sizes and breeds of dogs in all types of weather
   • Able to be on your feet several times a day while dog walking
   • Able to visually observe people and animals from up to 150 feet away
   • Own a smartphone with internet, texting, and email capabilities
   • Able to complete the Fetch! Pet Care training program
   • Live in or around the areas we service (Lafayette and Broomfield)
   • Able to pass a criminal background check
   • Have reliable transportation Company DescriptionAt Fetch! Pet Care, we’re not just animal lovers, we’re a growing business that is dedicated to providing stable, well-paying jobs in our community. With tens of thousands of satisfied clients nationwide, we’ve earned a solid reputation as the most trusted and reliable pet care service in the country.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right pet sitter for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit pet sitters, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   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 sitter

   Once you've selected the best pet sitter 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.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

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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How much does it cost to hire a pet sitter?