How Much Do Dog Groomers Make? (And How to Earn More)

Most dog groomers in the U.S. earn roughly $30,000–$55,000 a year, or about $18–$28 an hour. Employed salon groomers cluster on the lower end; self-employed and mobile groomers in busy markets regularly clear $75,000–$100,000+. Your dog groomer income depends less on the title than on how you price, specialize, and add revenue.

How much do dog groomers make on average?

Pay varies widely by where and how you work. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for animal caretakers — the category that includes most pet groomers — was $33,470 in May 2024, with the lowest 10% under $24,500 and the top 10% above $46,480 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). That's the floor, not the ceiling: BLS lumps a lot of entry-level and part-time kennel and daycare staff into the same bucket.

Job-board data skews higher because it captures experienced, full-time groomers. ZipRecruiter and Glassdoor put the average dog groomer income closer to $49,000–$54,000 a year. Across both, employed salon groomers typically land in the $30,000–$45,000 range, while self-employed and mobile groomers with a steady book routinely earn more. Tips, which most surveys leave out, can add several thousand dollars on top.

How much do dog groomers make an hour?

Most employed groomers earn about $18–$28 an hour, depending on experience, location, and whether they're paid hourly or on commission. Commission groomers — usually 40–60% of each groom — can out-earn a flat hourly rate on busy days, because faster, higher-quality work directly lifts the paycheck.

Self-employed groomers think in dollars per dog instead of dollars per hour. If you groom six to eight dogs a day at $60–$90 each, that's $360–$720 in daily revenue before expenses. Booth-rent and mobile groomers keep more of that, but also cover their own supplies, insurance, and — for mobile — the van and fuel.

Where do dog groomers make the most money?

Two things drive it: geography and setting. Higher-cost states pay more on paper — California, New York, and Washington top most employee salary surveys at roughly $42,000–$48,000 a year — but cost of living eats much of that premium. Setting matters even more than state: booth renters out-earn salon employees, salon owners out-earn renters, and mobile groomers frequently top the list, regularly clearing $75,000–$100,000+ in mid-to-large markets.

Can a dog groomer make $100,000 a year?

Yes — but almost never as an hourly salon employee. Six-figure dog groomer income shows up in three places: business owners with multiple groomers, high-volume mobile groomers in affluent areas, and specialists in show, breed-specific, or luxury grooming. A solo mobile groomer doing six dogs a day at $95, five days a week, grosses about $148,000 a year before expenses. Getting there isn't about working more hours — it's about raising revenue per client and adding income that doesn't cost you another appointment slot.

How can dog groomers earn more without working more hours?

There are only a few real levers, and the best groomers pull several at once:

• Raise your prices. A $5–$10 bump per groom across a full book is thousands a year with zero added time.
• Add premium services. Teeth brushing, de-shedding, nail grinding, and breed-specific styling carry high margins and take minutes.
• Sell the products you already recommend. You tell clients which shampoo, brush, or supplement to buy every day — that advice can pay you.
• Build income that doesn't depend on the table. Retail and referrals keep earning between appointments.

How do groomers make money from product recommendations?

Every groomer is already a product expert. Clients constantly ask what shampoo to use or what calms an itchy dog. You can stock a small retail shelf (upfront cash + storage), or curate a free online storefront of the products you recommend, share the link, and earn when clients buy — no inventory, no shipping. With Americans spending more than $158 billion on their pets in 2025 (American Pet Products Association), even a small slice adds up. Here's the full picture of how pet pros earn from the products they recommend. And if you also walk or sit, see passive income for dog walkers and pet sitters.