Pet groomers work with a wide variety of pets and should understand basic animal anatomy.
Pet groomers are animal caretakers who improve a pet's hygiene and appearance. Groomers wash, brush, trim and style a pet's fur. They also clip nails and inspect a pet's teeth for decay. Pet groomers are employed in various settings, including kennels, pet supply stores, veterinary offices and dog daycare centers. Many pet groomers are self-employed and frequently offer door-to-door grooming services with the help of a mobile grooming station. The job title of "pet groomer" falls under the broader career category of "nonfarm animal caretaker," according to ONet Online.
Hourly Wage
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported the average hourly wage for nonfarm animal caretakers was $10.50 in 2009. The median hourly wage was $9.40. The lowest paid 10 percent earned an hourly wage of $7.49 or less, while the lowest paid 25 percent earned an hourly wage of $8.22 or less. The highest paid 25 percent earned an hourly wage of $11.63 or more, while the highest paid 10 percent earned an hourly wage of $15.22 or more.
Annual Wage
The BLS reported the average annual wage for nonfarm animal caretakers was $21,830 in 2009. The median annual wage was $19,550. The lowest paid 10 percent earned an annual wage of $15,590 or less, while the lowest paid 25 percent earned an annual wage of $17,110 or less. The highest paid 25 percent earned an annual wage of $24,190 or more, while the highest paid 10 percent earned an annual wage of $31,660 or more.
Industry
Pet groomer salaries vary by industry. The personal services industry held the highest level of employment for nonfarm animal caretakers in 2009, according to the BLS, with an estimated 46,060 jobs that year. Pet groomers employed in this industry earned an hourly average wage of $10.55, or $21,950 a year. Nonfarm animal caretakers employed by pet stores earned an hourly mean wage of $9.46, or $19,670 a year, while those employed in the spectator sports industry earned an hourly average wage of $10.83, or $22,530 a year.
Location
Pet groomer salaries also vary by state. Hawaii was the top paying state for this occupation in 2009, with an hourly average wage of $15.02, or $31,240 a year. Kentucky was one of the lower paying states that year, with an hourly mean wage of $9.75, or $20,290 a year. Other top paying states in 2009 included Alaska, with an hourly average wage of $13.07, or $27,190 a year; Washington, D.C., with an hourly mean wage of $12.46 and an annual mean wage of $25,920; and Massachusetts, with an hourly mean wage of $11.79, or $24,550 a year.
Tags: paid percent, paid percent earned, percent earned, earned hourly, wage year