Whether inspired by a childhood interest in animals or an attention to detail and style discovered in adulthood, dog groomers have the opportunity to make a living by working with the pets they love. Even if the most attractive compensation for dog grooming is the chance to make pets and their owners happier, don't forget about salaries for the job.
Average Pay
After surveying 216 dog groomers, salary database PayScale found that average salaries for the job range from $19,934 and $36,088. This range includes bonus pay and commission income, which reached more than $24,000 per year for some of the survey's respondents. PayScale's figures are accurate as of January 2011.
Experience
PayScale's data shows that those in the dog grooming profession see significant increases in pay over time. After one to four years in the position, top salaries reach $31,697. This number increases to $35,820 for those with five to nine years at the job. Finally, top salaries reach $41,079 for groomers who have been working for 10 to 19 years.
Employer
One of the most important decisions for a soon-to-be dog groomer is choosing whether to work as a self-employed groomer or to get hired by an existing company. PayScale's survey sheds some light on the compensation implications of this decision. Groomers working for private companies make between $20,347 and $34,748. Self-employed individuals, on the other hand, have a much wide range of salaries, from $18,000 to $45,600.
Location
SalaryExpert provides a detailed breakdown of the average salaries of dog groomer in different location around the country. According to its findings, dog groomers in Colorado fare the best, with an average salary of $32,782. Illinois takes second place with an average at $31,190. Florida, Georgia and Pennsylvania each have average dog groomer salaries around $30,000.
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