Dog groomers with show ring experience can set their own prices.
Dog groomers across the United States have a wide range of remuneration. Many groomers have their own grooming salons, some work from home and others work for large organizations such as Petco and Petsmart. The American Pet Products Association's 2011-2012 National Pet Owners' Survey shows that out of the 79 million U.S. households that own pets, 46.3 million of those households own 78.2 million dogs. In 2010, pet owners spent $3.5 billion on grooming and boarding services across the country.
Qualifications
The pay scale of a groomer is directly related to his qualifications. Groomers who have completed a certification course are able to charge higher rates than those who learn by serving an apprenticeship under a qualified groomer. Approximately 50 state-licensed grooming schools offer grooming certificate programs, ranging in length from 2 to 18 weeks. The National Dog Groomers Association of America, established in 1969, offers a National Certified Master Groomer exam with an 85 percent pass requirement that gives holders NCGM status.
Employment
A dog groomer's salary also depends on whether he is self-employed or works for an employer. Self-employed groomers with their own salons or mobile grooming facilities may charge higher rates than large pet store chains, but the groomers in the store salons are more likely to receive tips from satisfied clients. The Bureau of Labor Statistics categorizes dog groomers as nonfarm animal caretakers, and as of May 2010, there were 135,070 people employed in the occupation.
Salary Range
Qualified dog groomers working at large chain stores such as Petco receive approximately $10 an hour according to Glassdoor.com, which publishes salaries posted anonymously by employers and employees. The BLS lists the national mean wage for nonfarm animal care workers at $10.61 per hour, or $22,070 annually. This differs between states, however, with the District of Columbia paying the highest average wage of $15.72 per hour as of May 2010, while North Central Colorado's nonmetropolitan area pays up to $16.44 per hour. Junior groomers and those without official qualifications may start as shampooists at around $7.50 per hour.
Prices
Independent dog groomers have the opportunity to charge fees that their market will bear. A mobile pet grooming service in Atlanta, for example, charges between $55 and $135 per dog as of August 2011, depending on the size and the grooming package selected. Groomers knowledgeable about the styling required for conformation dog shows need specific experience to make the dogs look their best in the ring, and a groomer of winning show dogs is able to charge "show" rates as well as overtime, because many shows take place over weekends and the dogs must be groomed on the same day as the show.
Independent Income
According to the BLS, the successful groomer should have between 150 and 200 clients to remain busy year-round. At an average price of $70 per dog visiting every six weeks, this calculates to $112,000 per year in revenue. If the groomer is able to keep overheads low, this can provide a net income of $60,000 per year.
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