Pet Groomer Salary Guide 2026: What Groomers Really Earn
Pet groomer salaries range from $25K to $90K+ in 2026. Data from BLS, ZipRecruiter, and 7.9M appointments by experience, setting, state, and tips.
Ask five groomers how much they make and you'll get five wildly different answers. That's because pet groomer salary depends on how you work, not just that you groom. A salon employee on 50% commission makes a very different number than a mobile groomer charging $120 per Goldendoodle, and both look nothing like a salon owner with three groomers on staff.
The data reflects this range. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a mean annual wage of $37,300 for animal caretakers. Glassdoor says $54,464. ZipRecruiter splits the difference at $49,008. None of these numbers are wrong — they're measuring different populations, different methodologies, and different definitions of "groomer."
This guide cuts through the noise. We've pulled data from BLS, five major salary platforms, an analysis of 7.9 million grooming appointments, and the 2026 State of the Industry reports to give you the real picture — by experience level, work setting, state, and income type. Whether you're considering a grooming career, negotiating a raise, or deciding whether to go mobile, these are the numbers you need.
- Groomer salary range: $25,000–$90,000+ depending on setting and experience
- Mobile groomers earn 28% more than salon groomers on average ($61K vs $48K — ZipRecruiter)
- Average tip per full groom: $10.17 (from 7.9M appointments — MoeGo data)
- New in 2026: No Tax on Tips — up to $25K/yr in tips exempt from federal income tax (IRS)
- BLS projects 15% job growth through 2033 with ~84,500 annual openings
- Grooming prices up 40–50% since 2019: full groom from $65 to $95 (Teddy)
- 61% of groomers receive zero benefits — a key factor in the employee vs. independent decision
What the Data Actually Says: Groomer Salary by Source
Different salary platforms report different numbers because they track different populations. The major sources land in different ranges:
| Source | Average/Median | Hourly | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLS (May 2025) | $37,300 | $17.94 | — | — | $46,480+ |
| Salary.com (Jun 2026) | $39,402 | $19.00 | $32,202 | $49,102 | $57,933 |
| ZipRecruiter (Mar 2026) | $49,008 | $23.56 | $33,500 | $60,500 | $74,500 |
| Indeed (Apr 2026) | ~$49,504 | $23.80 | — | — | — |
| Glassdoor (May 2026) | $54,464 | $26.00 | $42,063 | $71,307 | $90,212 |
Note: BLS tracks "animal caretakers" broadly (including kennel workers); job-specific platforms track self-reported groomer salaries. Glassdoor and ZipRecruiter include tips and commission in total comp.
The BLS figure ($37,300) is the lowest because it groups groomers with kennel attendants, dog walkers, and shelter workers. The Glassdoor figure ($54,464) is highest because it captures self-reported data from groomers who tend to be more experienced and urban. The truth for most working groomers falls in the $40,000–$60,000 range, before tips.
Salary by Experience Level
Experience is the single biggest factor in groomer pay. Income follows a clear staircase by experience level:
| Level | Experience | Hourly Range | Annual Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dog Bather | 0 yrs | $12–16 | $25,000–$32,000 | Entry point, no grooming skills required |
| Apprentice/Junior | 0–2 yrs | $14–19 | $30,000–$40,000 | Learning scissor work, handling breeds |
| Standard Groomer | 2–5 yrs | $18–25 | $38,000–$55,000 | Competent across most breeds, building clientele |
| Senior/Specialty Stylist | 5+ yrs | $25–35 | $50,000–$75,000 | Breed specialization, full book, higher tips |
| Salon Owner/Manager | Varies | $40–80+ (eff.) | $60,000–$120,000+ | Revenue from own grooms + staff commission split |
Sources: PayScale (2026), GroomerJob, GroomGrid, Financial Models Lab
Certification has a measurable impact. NDGAA-certified groomers earn higher pay than non-certified groomers (Dogster), and breed specialization yields a 20–30% salary premium (GroomGrid). If you're a standard groomer earning $42K, adding certification and a breed specialization could push you to $50K–$55K — a $8K–$13K annual raise for a few hundred dollars in training.
Income by Work Setting: Where You Work Changes Everything
Work setting reshapes the salary conversation entirely. The same groomer with the same skills earns dramatically different amounts depending on their work setting:
| Setting | Annual Income | How It Works | Pros / Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salon Employee (commission) | $28,000–$42,000 | 50% commission × 6 dogs/day × $50 avg = ~$150/day | Steady clients, no overhead / lower ceiling, no control |
| Booth Renter | $38,000–$65,000 | 100% of revenue minus booth rent ($200–600/wk) | Keep more per groom, bring own clients / rent + supplies |
| Home-Based Solo | $40,000–$75,000 | 6 dogs/day × $50 avg × 250 days = $75K gross | Lowest overhead, flexible / zoning limits, isolation |
| Mobile Groomer (solo) | $50,000–$90,000 | 4–6 dogs/day × $75–120 avg; 50–60% take-home | Premium pricing, growing demand / van costs, fuel, route time |
| Mobile Business Owner | $75,000–$280,000+ | Yr 1: $75K → Yr 2: $150K → Yr 3: $280K+ (scaling with staff/vans) | Highest ceiling, scalable / management complexity, capital |
| Salon Owner (with staff) | $45,000–$120,000+ | Own grooms + 40–50% of staff revenue; 10–20% net margins | Multiple revenue streams / rent, staff management, overhead |
Sources: ZipRecruiter, Academy of Pet Careers, Financial Models Lab, GroomGrid (2026)
The standout: mobile groomers earn 28.2% more than salon groomers on average — $61,079 versus $47,659 (ZipRecruiter). The mobile segment is also growing at 15–20% annually, the fastest in the industry. If you're considering a career path change, mobile is where the money and momentum are.
For mobile groomers, route optimization is a direct income multiplier — cutting 30–45 minutes of daily drive time means fitting in one more dog per day. At $85 per groom, that's $425/week or $22,100/year in additional revenue.
Commission vs. Hourly: How Groomer Pay Actually Works
The grooming industry has a unique compensation structure. According to industry surveys, 73% of groomers are paid commission-only, 20% are hourly, and 7% use a hybrid model (Daily Groomer/PetGroomer.com).
Commission Model (Most Common)
- Standard range: 40–60% of the service price goes to the groomer
- New groomers typically start at 40–45%; experienced groomers negotiate 50–60%
- The salon keeps the remainder to cover rent, supplies, insurance, and marketing
- Example: 6 dogs/day × $80 average groom × 50% commission = $240/day = $62,400/year (260 working days)
Hourly Model
- Typical range: $15–25/hour depending on experience and market
- More predictable income regardless of client volume
- Less upside on busy days, but protection on slow days
- Common at corporate chains (PetSmart, Petco) where starting pay is $15–18/hr with potential to reach $25+
Which Is Better?
Commission pays more once you have a full book and can consistently groom 6–8 dogs per day. Hourly is better when you're building a clientele or working in a salon with inconsistent volume. The sweet spot: negotiate a base hourly rate ($15–18/hr) with commission on top for anything above a minimum threshold.
Tips: The Income Boost Nobody Talks About Accurately
MoeGo analyzed 7.9 million grooming appointments and $75+ million in tips — the largest tipping dataset in the grooming industry. The numbers are striking:
| Service | Average Tip | Tip Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Full Groom | $10.17 | 10.82% |
| Nail Trim | $1.95 | 10.42% |
| With digital tipping prompts | $12.01 | 16.66% |
| With digital report cards | $15.24 | — |
Source: MoeGo State of Tipping Report (7.9M appointments, 2025)
Two findings stand out. First, digital tipping prompts increase tips by 20% (from $9.96 to $12.01). Second — and this is remarkable — sending clients a digital report card after the groom increases tips by 53% (from $9.81 to $15.24). The report card makes the groomer's work visible, and clients reward that transparency.
Annual Tip Income Calculator
Tips represent 10–30% of total groomer earnings. Sending report cards effectively adds $7,800/yr in tip income vs. no digital tools.
Where Tips Are Highest
MoeGo's data reveals significant geographic variation. The top tipping cities: St. Louis $25.21/appointment, Austin $22.17, Nashville $17.57. Top states: Colorado $18.22, Utah $14.58, Virginia $14.46. Peak tipping months: November through January, with December highest at $10.86 average.
New for 2026: No Tax on Tips (OBBB Act)
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is the biggest compensation change for groomers in years. Signed into law in 2026, it makes up to $25,000 per year in tips exempt from federal income tax. The IRS explicitly lists "Pet and Show Animal Caretaker" as a qualifying occupation.
What this means in dollars:
FICA taxes still apply to tips. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation. Source: IRS OBBB guidance (June 2026)
For a groomer earning $15,600/year in tips at the 22% federal bracket, the OBBB Act is effectively a $3,400+ annual raise without asking your employer for a dime. This makes tips an even more significant portion of total compensation than before.
Salary by State: Where Groomers Earn the Most
Geographic location significantly affects groomer pay. ZipRecruiter's 2026 state-level data shows:
| Rank | Highest-Paying States | Avg Salary | vs. National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $55,506 | +13.3% |
| 2 | Washington, D.C. | $54,800+ | +12% |
| 3 | New York | $53,600+ | +9.4% |
| 4 | California | $52,000+ | +6% |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $51,500+ | +5% |
Source: ZipRecruiter (2026). Lowest-paying regions include Louisiana and rural Southeast. Cost of living varies significantly — a $55K salary in Washington goes less far than $45K in Texas.
Important context: higher-paying states also have higher costs of living. A groomer earning $55K in Washington state may have less disposable income than one earning $48K in Texas after housing, taxes, and transportation. When evaluating a move or market, compare net income after cost of living, not gross salary.
The Mobile Groomer Income Model
Mobile grooming deserves a closer look because it offers the highest income ceiling for working groomers. The math breaks down like this:
Conservative estimate at 5 dogs/day. At 6 dogs/day: gross $179,400, net ~$153,300. Source: Financial Models Lab (2026)
Mobile gross margins run 60–80% (versus 30–50% for salons) because you eliminate rent — typically the largest expense in a grooming business. The trade-off is van costs ($800–1,200/month for a fully equipped van) and fuel, but these are still far less than commercial rent in most markets.
When I ran a three-van mobile operation, our overhead ran about 22% of gross. The variable that made or broke a day's profit wasn't price per groom, it was drive time between stops.
AI scheduling directly increases mobile income by clustering appointments geographically. Less driving = more grooming = more revenue.
The Benefits Reality Check
Most salary guides skip the benefits gap. PayScale's 2026 data shows that 61% of groomers receive zero benefits — no health insurance, no PTO, no retirement.
| Benefit | % of Groomers Receiving | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Medical insurance | 35% | Employer pays 50–100%, or stipend ($200–500/mo) |
| PTO (paid time off) | ~30–40% | 1–2 weeks for new hires, 2–3 weeks experienced |
| Retirement (401k/IRA) | ~15–20% | Rare in small salons; available at corporate chains |
| NO benefits at all | 61% | Majority of groomers — especially commission-only |
Source: PayScale (2026, 173 groomer profiles)
Benefits math changes the employee vs. independent calculation. A self-employed mobile groomer earning $80K with no benefits needs to subtract $6,000–$12,000/year for health insurance, plus set aside 15.3% for self-employment tax (FICA). That $80K becomes $60K–$65K in true take-home. Compare honestly before jumping to self-employment.
Job Growth and the Groomer Shortage
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 15% job growth for animal care workers through 2033 — classified as "much faster than average" — with approximately 84,500 annual openings. The industry employs 150,000–180,000 groomers (Teddy) against 71 million dog-owning households (APPA).
Meanwhile, 52% of grooming businesses report hiring difficulties (NDGAA), and wait times have stretched to 3–6 weeks in many markets. This supply-demand imbalance is the fundamental reason grooming prices have risen 40–50% since 2019 — and it's not going away.
What This Means for Your Career
- Job security is essentially guaranteed — demand far exceeds supply, and the gap is widening
- Wage negotiating power is strong — if your employer won't raise your commission or hourly rate, another shop will
- The shortage makes specialization more valuable — groomers who handle cats, reactive dogs, or specific breeds command premium pricing
- Technology skills are a career multiplier — groomers who can manage online booking, client communication, and digital marketing earn more than those who only groom
How Pricing Trends Affect Your Income
Grooming prices have risen dramatically since 2019, and this directly affects groomer income — especially for commission-based workers:
If you're on 50% commission and the average full groom went from $65 to $95, your per-groom income rose from $32.50 to $47.50 — a 46% raise without changing anything about your work. If your employer raised prices but didn't adjust your commission rate, you already got a raise. If they raised prices and lowered your commission, that's a conversation worth having.
For pricing strategy, our pet grooming pricing guide covers how to set rates that reflect your market, skill level, and business model.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you make $100K as a pet groomer?
Yes — but not as a salon employee on commission. The paths to $100K+ are: mobile grooming (solo, 5–6 dogs/day at $115+ average ticket), mobile business ownership (scaling with additional vans/groomers), or salon ownership with 2+ groomers on staff. Glassdoor's 90th percentile is $90,212, and mobile business owners at Year 2–3 regularly exceed $150K.
Is pet grooming a good career in 2026?
By the numbers: 15% job growth (much faster than average), 84,500 annual openings, increasing wages, and a supply shortage that gives workers strong negotiating power. The downsides are real — physical demands, limited benefits (61% receive none), and the need for continuous skill development. But for someone who loves working with animals and wants a career that can't be outsourced or automated, grooming is one of the strongest trades available.
How much should I tip my groomer?
Industry standard is 15–20% of the service price. MoeGo's data shows the actual average is 10.82%, suggesting many clients tip less than the customary amount. For a $95 full groom, a 15% tip is $14.25 and a 20% tip is $19. If your groomer did a great job with a difficult dog, 20%+ is always appreciated.
Should I go mobile or stay in a salon?
Mobile pays 28% more on average and offers more schedule control, but requires $30,000–$60,000 upfront for a van and equipment. Start as a salon employee to build skills and clientele, then consider mobile once you have 2+ years of experience and enough savings for the van investment. The best transition path: rent a mobile van for 3–6 months before buying to test your market.
Earning More as a Groomer in 2026
Groomer income has never been higher — prices are up 40–50% since 2019, demand outstrips supply in every market, and the No Tax on Tips law adds thousands to your take-home pay. But the spread between the lowest and highest earners is also wider than ever.
Top earners share patterns. They specialize in breed-specific skills and certifications that separate a $42K groomer from a $55K one. They use technology to recapture time (online booking, digital report cards, AI for admin). They price for the 2026 market instead of 2019 rates. And they pick work settings that match their goals: mobile for income, salon for stability, ownership for scale.
Groomify helps you earn more per hour by eliminating the admin that eats into your grooming time. AI answers your phones, fills your schedule, sends report cards that increase tips by 53%, and handles client communication — so every working hour is spent grooming, not managing. Start your free trial and see how much more your time is worth.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics: Animal Caretakers, Mean $37,300 (May 2025)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Outlook Handbook: Animal Care Workers, 15% Growth 2023–2033, 84,500 Annual Openings
- ZipRecruiter — Pet Groomer Salary: $49,008 Average, $74,500 at 90th Percentile (March 2026)
- ZipRecruiter — Mobile Dog Groomer Salary: $61,079 Average, 28.2% Above Salon (November 2025)
- Indeed — Pet Groomer Salaries: $23.80/hr Average from 6,900 Reports (April 2026)
- Glassdoor — Dog Groomer Salary: $54,464 Average, $90,212 at 90th Percentile (May 2026)
- Salary.com — Pet Groomer Salary: $39,402 Average, $57,933 at 90th Percentile (June 2026)
- PayScale — Dog Groomer Hourly Rate: $17.32 Average; 61% Receive No Benefits (March 2026)
- MoeGo — State of Tipping in Pet Care: 7.9M Appointments, $75M+ in Tips Analyzed (2025)
- IRS — No Tax on Tips Under OBBB Act: Up to $25,000/yr Exempt; Pet Caretakers Listed (June 2026)
- Teddy — State of Pet Grooming Industry 2026: Pricing Trends, Labor Shortage, Market Size
- APPA — U.S. Pet Industry $158B (2025); 95M Pet-Owning Households; $510/yr Grooming Spend (2026)
- Financial Models Lab — Mobile Pet Grooming Income Model: Year 1–5 Revenue Projections (2026)
- Daily Groomer / PetGroomer.com — Commission Structure Survey: 73% Commission-Only (2025)
- GroomGrid, GroomerJob, Academy of Pet Careers — Experience-Based Salary Breakdowns (2026)
Ready to run your grooming business with AI?
Solo groomer or growing salon, Groomify helps you earn more per hour — AI handles your phones, fills your schedule, and automates your admin so you can focus on grooming. Start your free trial.