How Much Money Does a Dog Groomer Make?

A dog is groomed ahead of the international Crufts conformation show.

A dog groomer can make as much money as his time and reputation permits. The “recession-proof” pet economy, estimated at $47.7 billion in 2010, would be one of the 10 largest in the United States if it were a single retail segment, according to an article in the Fiscal Times. In this market, the 2011-2012 American Pet Products Association’s National Pet Owners Survey estimates the public will spend up to $3.65 billion on pet services including grooming in 2011.

Employment Earnings

Qualified dog groomers can work for a grooming salon or independently. Salons usually pay a fixed rate, which is either hourly or a unit rate based on the number of dogs groomed. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics categorizes dog groomers as “non-farm animal care and service workers,” together with pet sitters and kennel attendants, and lists the national average hourly wage at $10.67. This rate is based on formal employment only and varies between states and metropolitan areas. Many groomers work part-time or less than eight hours a day.

Independent Earnings

The independent dog groomer operates in his own home or opens his own grooming salon. Some groomers take their services to the client in the form of house calls, which work in the client’s home, or mobile services using a suitably equipped vehicle such as a trailer. A 2009 survey conducted online by PetGroomer.com indicates an overall U.S. average grooming fee by a non-mobile groomer of $41.50, while a mobile groomer’s average is $61.

Show Groomers

Dog groomers who specialize in grooming for conformation shows might have to work unusual hours, as they do much of the grooming at the show before the dog entering the ring. Various breeds require specific styles of clipping and brushing, and groomers usually specialize in a few breeds. The price for grooming a miniature poodle with a pattern such as a “Dutch” cut can be up to $120, according to the PetGroomer.com survey, and groomers can expect substantial tips from the happy owner of a winning dog.

Celebrity Groomers

Celebrity pet stylists such as New York City’s Jonathan David from Animal Planet's “Groomer Has It” and “Dogs 101” charge up to 25 percent more than the most expensive grooming salons. A competitor on the Groom Team USA, David ranks “among the top five pet stylists in the country,” according to his Facebook fan page. David operates in Florida, but visits NYC regularly, where he has an extensive list of clients who pay up to $125 for a session, according to customer reviews in the Franklin Report.

Specialty Groomers

The annual Intergroom event is a three-day show held in New Jersey for the international dog grooming industry. Groomers vie for the prize money that goes with an award in categories such as creative styling, extreme makeover and the styling of pure-bred dogs. Winning an award brings a groomer prestige and publicizes the name of his company to dog owners. With an Intergroom win behind him, a groomer is able to carefully select clients and charge prices accordingly.

References

• “The Fiscal Times”; Pet Economy: Americans Feed the Beast and Then Some; Maureen Mackey; June 2010
• American Pet Products Association: National Pet Owners Survey 2011-2012
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2010 - 39-2021 Nonfarm Animal Caretakers
• PetGroomer.com: Detailed Grooming Prices Results 2009 by U.S. Region
• Facebook: Jonathan David Celebrity Dog Groomer
• The Franklin Report: Jonathan David Celebrity Dog Groomer

Resources

• “The New York Times”; Where Creativity Wags Its Tail; John Branch; April 2010
• Intergroom, Inc: International Groomer of the Year