The pet care industry is a multibillion-dollar market, according to Entrepreneur magazine. You can turn your love of animals into a comfortable income as the manager of a pet store. The average salary ranges between $33,000 and $55,000 as of 2011.
National Average
As is to be expected with any managerial position, a pet store manager earns a considerably higher salary than his employees. Pet store managers across the United States earn an average salary of $39,830, compared to roughly $24,000 for the average pet store employee, according to PayScale, a company that gathers salary information. Other factors determine whether you make more or less should you choose to become a pet store manager.
Regionally
Manager salaries vary by region, likely due in part to the fact that the cost of living varies. As a manager in a Southern city like Charlotte or Atlanta, expect to make around $33,000 a year. Managers in Northeastern cities like Boston and New York typically make the highest salaries -- as much as $43,000 per year. If you live in any of the Southwestern states, your income will likely be somewhere between these two extremes.
Bonuses
In addition to your regular salary, you might receive a bonus. If so, it will be about $2,500 annually, according to PayScale. If you work as the department manager of a pet store, rather than the manager of the entire store, your bonus would be about $1,000.
Experience
Pet store managers make more money with experience. The amount of the pay raise is difficult to predict, but it's not unusual for a manager to earn a couple thousand dollars more every year. Your salary might start as low as $33,000, but after 20 years you might earn as much as $55,000 annually.
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