Dog groomers make between $20,000 and $35,000 per year.
From bathing to brushing, clipping to snipping, dog groomers are responsible for making sure that pets look their best. Of course, the most rewarding aspects of this job are being able to work with animals every day, as well as seeing their owners' happy faces. Taking the financial aspects of the job into consideration and checking out some average salaries, however, can help prospective groomers see if the career is truly sustainable.
National Averages
According to a PayScale survey, dog groomers earn between $19,934 and $36,088 per year on average. This range includes bonus pay and commissions, but excludes non-monetary perks and benefits. All ranges reported by PayScale are accurate as of December 2010.
Experience
Gaining experience as a groomer (measured in dog or human years) is a good way to increase pay. According to PayScale, groomers with one to four years of experience earn between $20,011 and $31,916. Five to nine years of grooming experience increases the top end of this range to $35,820. After 10 to 19 years, the top average again grows to $41,271.
Employer
PayScale shows that self-employed dog groomers have the highest average salaries. Those working for themselves earn between $15,871 and $46,661 per year. The annual pay of employees of private companies spans from $19,873 to $34,174. Groomers working for animal hospitals earn between $17,200 and $28,200 annually.
Benefits
Unfortunately, non-cash benefits are less than common for dog groomers. In fact, PayScale shows that only 28 percent of surveyed groomers are offered medical insurance from their work. In addition, 20 percent are given dental care and 15 percent get vision coverage.
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