What is a dog groomer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
introduction image
The average dog groomer salary is $31,920. The most common degree is a high school diploma degree with an business major. It usually takes 1-3 months of experience to become a dog groomer. Dog groomers with a National Certified Master Groomer certification earn more money. Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 28% and produce 101,200 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreDog GroomerUS Average
Salary
2.5

Avg. Salary $31,920

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
6.7

Growth Rate 28%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
1.1
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.48%

Asian 2.83%

Black or African American 4.94%

Hispanic or Latino 17.31%

Unknown 6.41%

White 68.04%

Gender

female 84.46%

male 15.54%

Age - 29
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 29
Stress Level
6.7

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
8.0

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
8.1

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Dog Groomer career paths

Key steps to become a dog groomer

  1. Explore dog groomer education requirements

    Most common dog groomer degrees

    High School Diploma

    43.6 %

    Associate

    20.4 %

    Bachelor's

    20.1 %
  2. Start to develop specific dog groomer skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    PET56.55%
    Customer Service11.45%
    Scheduling Appointments9.57%
    Coats4.09%
    Animal Handling3.57%
  3. Complete relevant dog groomer training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New dog groomers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a dog groomer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real dog groomer resumes.
  4. Research dog groomer duties and responsibilities

    • Manage all breeding, whelping, raising of puppies, grooming and showing of dogs for owners in the AKC.
    • Ensure customer satisfaction by sharing information regarding pet care products.
    • Provide all services in the salon from hair styling, bathing, over all maintenance and care for the pet.
    • Comb, clip, trim and shape dogs' coats to groom dogs, using knowledge of grooming techniques and styles.
  5. Prepare your dog groomer resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your dog groomer resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a dog groomer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Dog Groomer Resume templates

    Build a professional Dog Groomer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Dog Groomer resume.
    Dog Groomer Resume
    Dog Groomer Resume
    Dog Groomer Resume
    Dog Groomer Resume
    Dog Groomer Resume
    Dog Groomer Resume
    Dog Groomer Resume
    Dog Groomer Resume
    Dog Groomer Resume
  6. Apply for dog groomer jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a dog groomer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Dog Groomer Job

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Average dog groomer salary

The average Dog Groomer salary in the United States is $31,920 per year or $15 per hour. Dog groomer salaries range between $22,000 and $45,000 per year.

Average Dog Groomer Salary
$31,920 Yearly
$15.35 hourly

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How do dog groomers rate their job?

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Dog Groomer reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2020
Cons

Dogs in homes


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020
Pros

Repeat clients with well behaved and cute pets.

Cons

Wild non trained. Once a lifetime into groomers..biters. wiggly , jumpers., Barker's non stop clients who can't understand why you take so long or understand why we do some of things we have to do.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020
Cons

Walking in rain


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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