How Much Do Dog Groomers Make? 2026

If you're trying to figure out how much dog groomers actually make in 2026, the public salary databases tell a misleadingly low story. Bureau of Labor Statistics figures put the median around $33,000-$36,000 because they lump in part-time and entry-level positions at chain salons. Real-world earnings for working dog groomers — especially independent ones and salon owners — are significantly higher and have climbed sharply since 2020. This guide breaks down what groomers actually take home by experience level, location, and business model, with the math that explains the wide range.

The Quick Answer

In 2026, working dog groomers in the U.S. earn between $30,000 and $120,000+ per year, with the median for full-time experienced groomers landing around $48,000-$65,000. Mobile groomers and independent salon owners regularly clear $75,000-$120,000. Apprentices and bathers earn $25,000-$40,000 during training.

The spread is wide because grooming income depends on five variables: experience, location, business model (employee vs. self-employed), volume, and pricing.

Income by Business Model

Salaried/Hourly Employee at a Salon or Chain

Entry-level groomers at PetSmart, Petco, or independent salons typically earn:

• Apprentice/bather: $14-$22/hour ($28,000-$45,000/year full-time)
• Junior groomer (1-3 years): $18-$28/hour or 40-50% commission ($35,000-$55,000)
• Experienced groomer (3+ years): $25-$40/hour or 50-60% commission ($50,000-$80,000)
• Lead/senior groomer with following: $35-$50/hour or 60-70% commission ($65,000-$100,000+)

Chain salon employees usually earn at the lower end of these ranges; high-end independent salons pay at the higher end. Tip income on top adds $5,000-$15,000/year for most full-time groomers.

Commission Groomer at an Independent Salon

Many independent salons pay groomers as 1099 contractors on commission (typically 50-60% of the groom fee). A groomer doing 6 dogs/day at an average $90 ticket on 60% commission earns:

• Daily: 6 × $90 × 0.60 = $324
• Annual (250 working days): ~$81,000 before tips
• With tips averaging 15-18%: $93,000-$96,000

Commission groomers typically pay self-employment tax (~15.3%) on this income, which knocks take-home down meaningfully. Still, the gross is well above chain salon employee wages.

Independent Solo Groomer (Salon, Home Studio, or Mobile)

This is where earnings get interesting. A solo independent groomer keeps 100% of the groom fee minus operating expenses.

Solo home studio:

• 5 dogs/day × $95 avg × 5 days = $2,375/week
• ~$118,000 gross annual revenue
• Less expenses ($900-$1,200/month): ~$104,000-$107,000 net
• Plus tips: ~$120,000 total

Solo commercial salon:

• 6 dogs/day × $100 avg × 5 days = $3,000/week
• ~$150,000 gross annual revenue
• Less expenses ($4,000-$4,500/month): ~$96,000-$102,000 net
• Plus tips: ~$112,000 total

Solo mobile groomer:

• 4-5 dogs/day × $130 avg × 5 days = $2,600-$3,250/week
• ~$130,000-$162,500 gross annual revenue
• Less expenses ($2,000-$3,000/month, mostly fuel, van payment, insurance): ~$102,000-$130,000 net
• Plus tips: ~$120,000-$150,000 total

These are realistic, not aspirational. Many solo groomers hit these numbers within 18-30 months of going independent.

If you're considering going independent, read How to Start a Dog Grooming Business.

Salon Owner (Multi-Groomer Operation)

This is where income varies most. A 3-groomer salon with the owner also grooming can generate:

• Revenue: $300,000-$420,000/year
• Operating costs (rent, payroll, supplies, software): $200,000-$280,000
• Owner's grooming income: $70,000-$95,000
• Owner's business profit: $40,000-$80,000
• Total owner take-home: $110,000-$175,000+

Larger salons with 5-10 groomers and a non-grooming owner-manager can clear $150,000-$300,000+ in owner income, though scaling brings significant operational complexity.

Income by Experience Level

Income by Region

Geographic variation is significant. Approximate ranges for experienced full-time groomers:

Why the Public Stats Underestimate Groomer Income

The widely cited median of $33,000-$36,000 misses real groomer earnings for three reasons:

1. Cash and tip income often goes unreported. Conservative estimates suggest 15-25% of total grooming compensation is in tips, much of it cash that doesn't appear in W-2 data.
2. Self-employed and 1099 income is undercounted. A meaningful share of working groomers are independent contractors or owner-operators whose income shows up on Schedule C, not in standard salary surveys.
3. Part-time and seasonal workers drag the median down. A lot of "dog groomers" in salary databases work fewer than 30 hours/week or only seasonally. Full-time experienced groomers earn significantly more than the median suggests.

If you're looking at salary data to decide whether grooming is a viable career, look at independent groomers and small business owners, not chain salon employees.

What Drives Income Higher

Five things consistently push grooming income above the median:

Going independent. The single biggest income jump is leaving an employer to operate solo. A groomer earning $50,000 at a chain commonly doubles their income within 24 months as a solo operator.

Mobile service. Mobile groomers command 25-50% pricing premiums and have lower fixed overhead. Many of the highest-earning solo groomers run mobile units.

Specialty or breed expertise. Doodle specialists, show-quality grooming, fear-free certified groomers, and cat groomers all command premium pricing and have shorter wait lists.

Strong client retention systems. Groomers using modern software with automated reminders, online booking, and consistent communication retain clients 30-50% better than those operating on paper. Tools like Teddy, MoeGo, DaySmart, and Gingr all support these workflows; Teddy specifically includes unlimited two-way SMS, which matters for groomers who text clients heavily without wanting to meter messages.

Pricing discipline. The groomers earning the most are not afraid to raise prices annually and have a published price list that they hold to.

For a detailed pricing strategy, see How to Price Your Grooming Services Profitably.

What Pulls Income Lower

Three things commonly drag grooming income below what it could be:

• Chronic undercharging. "I don't want to lose clients" leads to 30-40% underpricing in many cases.
• High no-show rates. A 12% no-show rate on a busy schedule wipes out $15,000-$25,000 of annual revenue. Card-on-file policies and automated reminders cut no-shows dramatically.
• Inefficient client management. Groomers still on pen and paper or basic spreadsheets miss rebooking opportunities, can't track client retention, and lose money on operational drag.

How to Increase Your Own Grooming Income

If you're already a working groomer:

1. Audit your pricing against local competitors. If you're below median, raise prices 10-15% this quarter.
2. Move to a card-on-file policy to cut no-shows.
3. Adopt modern grooming software if you haven't. The productivity gain pays for itself in 60-90 days.
4. Consider specialty positioning. "Doodle specialist" or "fear-free certified" or "senior dog specialist" supports premium pricing.
5. Run the math on going independent. If you're earning $50,000 as an employee and your salon does $400,000 in revenue with 3 groomers, the owner is making more than $100,000. The math may favor you going solo.

Many growing grooming businesses use Teddy to manage scheduling, client communication, intake forms, and automated reminders as they scale.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do dog groomers make per hour?

Hourly pay ranges from $14/hour for apprentices and bathers to $50+/hour for senior groomers with a strong client following. The median full-time experienced groomer earns roughly $22-$32/hour as an employee, or significantly more as a commission groomer or independent.

Do dog groomers make good money?

Full-time experienced dog groomers in 2026 commonly earn $50,000-$80,000 as employees and $80,000-$150,000+ as independents or salon owners. The career has gotten meaningfully more lucrative since 2020 due to labor shortages and rising average ticket prices.

How much do mobile dog groomers make?

Mobile groomers typically earn $100,000-$150,000 per year as solo operators, with top earners exceeding $180,000. Mobile commands a 25-50% pricing premium over salon grooming, which more than offsets the additional vehicle and fuel costs.

Is dog grooming a six-figure career?

Yes, increasingly. Solo independent groomers (especially mobile), salon owners, and senior commission groomers in major metros commonly earn six figures. Achieving six figures as a salaried employee at a chain salon is harder but not impossible for top performers with strong tip income.

How long does it take to start earning well as a dog groomer?

Most groomers reach a comfortable income (~$50,000+) within 3-5 years. Going independent typically doubles income within 18-24 months for groomers with established client bases. Mobile units and specialty positioning can accelerate the timeline.