Pet grooming requires no state license anywhere in the United States, so most groomers train through apprenticeship or a grooming school and then build a client base. The BLS places animal care and service workers at a $35,530 median with 11 percent projected growth, though most experienced groomers work on commission or self-employed and earn differently.
What Does a Pet Groomer Do?
Pet groomers bathe, clip, trim, and style animals, and in the process often notice health problems owners have missed: lumps, ear infections, skin disease, and parasites. The role combines technical scissor and clipper skill with animal handling, because a frightened or aggressive dog on a grooming table is a genuine safety risk.
Key Responsibilities
- Bathe, dry, brush, and de-mat coats
- Clip and scissor breed-standard and pet trims
- Trim nails, clean ears, and express anal glands where requested
- Handle anxious, elderly, or aggressive animals safely
- Identify and report skin, ear, and coat abnormalities to owners
- Sanitize tools, tables, and kennels between animals
- Manage bookings, pricing, and client communication
A Day in the Life
Groomers typically work from a booked appointment list, with each dog taking one to three hours depending on size, coat, and temperament. The day runs in stages: intake and health check, bath and dry, then the clip or scissor work that requires the most concentration. Drying is often the longest and noisiest part. Between animals there is cleaning, tool sanitation, and client handover conversations. Most groomers are on their feet for the entire shift.
How to Become a Pet Groomer: Step by Step
There is no licensing requirement, so entry is through training and demonstrated skill rather than credentials. Most groomers learn by a mix of formal instruction and supervised practice.
- Get animal handling experience. Work or volunteer at a kennel, shelter, veterinary clinic, or grooming salon as a bather. Bathing is the standard entry position and is where most groomers start.
- Train formally or through apprenticeship. Grooming schools run a few weeks to several months. Many successful groomers instead apprentice under an experienced groomer, which takes longer but is usually cheaper or paid.
- Practice breed standards. Competence across coat types is what determines earnings. Poodles, doodles, terriers, and double-coated breeds each require different technique.
- Consider voluntary certification. The National Dog Groomers Association of America offers certification, and the International Society of Canine Cosmetologists offers another. Neither is required, but both signal verified skill.
- Build clients or open a business. Groomers work in salons, veterinary practices, and pet retail chains, or go mobile and self-employed, which typically pays best once a client base exists.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Pet Groomer?
You can start as a bather immediately with no training. Most people become competent groomers within six months to two years depending on whether they attend school or apprentice. Building a full book of repeat clients usually takes another year or two.
Pet Groomer Education and Licensing Requirements
No degree is required and a high school diploma is typical. Grooming schools and apprenticeships provide the practical training. Business and customer service skills matter as much as technical ones for anyone planning to go independent.
No U.S. state licenses pet groomers. Requirements are limited to local business registration if self-employed, and liability insurance, which is strongly advised because grooming injuries to animals do occur and claims are not rare. Voluntary certification through NDGAA or ISCC is the closest thing to a professional standard.
What the Training Costs, and What It Returns
Training costs range from nothing, if you apprentice while working as a bather, to several thousand dollars for a full grooming school program. Professional shears, clippers, blades, and a dryer represent a real ongoing investment and need regular sharpening and replacement. Mobile grooming requires a fitted van, which is a substantial outlay but usually supports the highest earnings.
Pet Groomer Salary and Job Outlook
BLS groups groomers with animal care and service workers, which includes many lower-paid roles, so the median understates experienced grooming income. Most salon groomers are paid on commission, typically a percentage of each groom, so earnings track speed, skill, and client retention. Self-employed and mobile groomers set their own pricing and generally earn the most, though they carry equipment and vehicle costs.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Median annual pay (Animal care and service workers) | $35,530 |
| Median pay, all U.S. occupations | $50,980 |
| Typical entry-level education | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Jobs in the U.S. (2025) | 413,000 |
| Projected growth, 2025–35 | 11% (all occupations: 3%) |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook — Animal care and service workers (May 2025 wages; 2025–35 projections). Pay varies by state, setting, and experience.
Job Outlook
Employment of animal care and service workers is projected to grow 11 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the 3 percent average across all occupations, driven by sustained pet ownership and steady demand for grooming as routine maintenance rather than a luxury.
Skills Employers Look For
- Scissor and clipper technique across coat types
- Calm, confident handling of stressed animals
- Knowledge of breed standards and coat care
- Physical stamina and tolerance for noise and wet work
- Recognizing skin, ear, and coat health problems
- Client communication about realistic outcomes
What Hiring Managers Actually Screen For
Salon owners screen on demonstrated skill first and usually require a working interview: you groom a dog while they watch. Speed matters because pay is commission-based, but safety and finish quality matter more, since one injury or a badly executed breed trim costs the salon a client permanently. Employers also weigh reliability heavily, as a no-show groomer means a day of cancelled appointments.
Where Pet Groomers Work
- Independent and franchise grooming salons
- Veterinary clinics and animal hospitals
- Pet retail chains with grooming departments
- Mobile grooming vans
- Boarding kennels and doggy daycare facilities
Career Path and Advancement
Most groomers start as bathers, move to full groomer, then either become a lead or salon manager or go independent. Independence is where earnings rise most: a mobile van or home salon eliminates commission splits. Experienced groomers also move into teaching at grooming schools, competitive grooming and show work, or building a multi-groomer business and hiring staff.
Is This Career Right for You?
Grooming suits people who want a skilled trade with animals, entered quickly and without debt or licensing hurdles. It is physically hard work: standing all day, lifting animals, wet, noisy, and with real bite and scratch risk. Income depends heavily on speed and client loyalty. For those who develop genuine craft skill, it offers strong independence and the option to run your own business early.
Pet Groomer FAQs
Do you need a license to be a pet groomer?
No U.S. state licenses pet groomers. You will typically need a local business registration if self-employed, and liability insurance is strongly advised.
How long does it take to become a pet groomer?
Six months to two years to become competent, depending on whether you attend grooming school or apprentice. You can start as a bather immediately.
How much do pet groomers make?
BLS reports $35,530 as the May 2025 median for animal care and service workers, but that group includes lower-paid roles. Most groomers earn commission, and self-employed or mobile groomers typically earn the most.
Is grooming school worth it?
It depends. School is faster and more structured; apprenticeship is cheaper or paid but slower. Employers care about demonstrated skill in a working interview, not which route you took.
Is pet grooming physically hard?
Yes. It involves standing for full shifts, lifting animals, repetitive hand and wrist motion, and bite risk. Repetitive strain injuries are common among long-term groomers.
What is the hardest part of grooming?
Handling frightened or aggressive animals safely while still producing a good finish, and managing owner expectations when a matted coat has to be shaved rather than styled.
Find Pet Groomer Jobs
Pulivarthi Group places pet groomers with employers across the United States. Browse current openings on our healthcare talent page, or explore more career paths in our career guide library.
Related guides: Pet Sitter · Animal Caretaker · Pet Care Assistant
Hiring Pet Groomers?
If you are an employer hiring pet groomers, Pulivarthi Group supplies pre-vetted, credentialed candidates nationwide. See our veterinary staffing services or request a staffing quote.
