To become a dog groomer, you'll usually need a high school diploma, then learn the trade either by working under an experienced groomer or by attending a grooming school. No national license is required, though certifications can help and many states require self-employed groomers to hold a business license.
Grooming is one of the most hands-on ways to work with animals, and you can be earning while you learn. Here's how people get started and what the job involves.
Figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook profile for animal care and service workers, read on 26 October 2026.
How to become a dog groomer, step by step
- Get comfortable with animals. BLS says many employers prefer people who already have experience with animals, and volunteering at a shelter is a common way to get it.
- Choose how you'll learn. Most groomers train on the job under an experienced groomer. Grooming schools are the alternative.
- Learn the full service. Cutting, trimming, shampooing and styling fur, clipping nails and cleaning ears.
- Consider a certification. It isn't required, but it can help you show your skills to employers and clients.
- Decide where you'll work. A salon, kennel, veterinary clinic, pet supply store or your own mobile service.
The part of the job beyond the clippers
BLS lists something new groomers often overlook: groomers also schedule appointments, sell products to pet owners and spot problems that may need a vet's attention. In other words, you're part stylist, part receptionist, part salesperson and part early warning system for the dog's health.
That matters most if you go independent. Mobile grooming, where you travel to clients' homes in a self-contained unit, is a business, and many states require self-employed animal care workers to have a business license. Sort that out before your first booking.
What dog groomers earn
BLS doesn't publish a separate wage for groomers. The closest figure is for animal caretakers, the group that covers day-to-day animal care.
| Measure (animal caretakers) | Figure, May 2025 |
|---|---|
| Median pay | $35,360 a year |
| Lowest 10% earned less than | $27,250 |
| Highest 10% earned more than | $50,060 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | $37,460 |
| Retail trade | $35,290 |
| Other personal services | $35,190 |
Those figures are as of October 2026. Groomers who own their business set their own prices, so their income can look quite different from these employee figures.
Job outlook
BLS projects employment of animal care and service workers to grow 11% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average. There were 413,000 jobs across the group in 2025.
Running a grooming business
If you open your own salon or van, booking and reminders quickly become a job of their own. Our comparison of the best dog grooming software covers scheduling and payments, and these ChatGPT prompts for dog groomers help with client messages and social posts.
The work can be physically demanding. BLS notes that animal care workers risk injury when handling animals, so learn safe handling early and look after your back and hands.
What the day involves
BLS lists these typical duties across animal care work, and groomers do most of them:
- Bathing animals, trimming nails, clipping hair and other grooming tasks
- Examining animals for signs of illness or injury
- Recording details of an animal's condition and behavior
- Cleaning equipment and the spaces animals use
The qualities BLS highlights are compassion, patience and physical stamina, since you'll kneel, lift and hold animals for long periods. Customer service skills matter as well, because you're dealing with owners who care a lot about their pets. Being detail oriented helps you notice changes in a regular client's dog and flag them to the owner.
Questions to ask before you start
- Salon, clinic or mobile? Each suits a different lifestyle, and mobile means running your own business from day one.
- Can I train with an experienced groomer? It's the most common route and you get paid while you learn.
- Am I ready for nervous or difficult dogs? Patience and safe handling matter more than speed in your first year.
- Do I need a business license? If you'll be self-employed, check your state rules before you take bookings.
Get those answered and you'll avoid the false starts that put many new groomers off the trade.
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Other animal careers to consider
Grooming sits inside a wider group of animal jobs, and some of them need more education. BLS says most zoos require zookeepers to have a bachelor's degree in biology, animal science or a related field. Dog trainers and horse trainers may take courses at community colleges or vocational schools, and marine mammal trainers usually need a bachelor's degree. If you're starting with grooming and later want to branch out, volunteering or interning at a zoo or aquarium is the route BLS points to.
My verdict
Becoming a dog groomer doesn't need a degree or a license, which makes it one of the easiest animal careers to start. Learn under an experienced groomer if you can, because you get paid while you train. If you plan to go mobile or open a salon, get your business license sorted and treat the customer side as seriously as the grooming.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a license to be a dog groomer?
There's no national license. Certifications are optional, but many states require self-employed groomers to have a business license.
How do dog groomers learn?
Most learn on the job under an experienced groomer. Some attend grooming schools instead.
How much do dog groomers make?
BLS doesn't list groomers separately. Animal caretakers had a median of $35,360 a year in May 2025.
What does a dog groomer do?
Cuts, trims, shampoos and styles fur, clips nails and cleans ears, and also books appointments, sells products and spots problems that may need a vet.
Can you be a mobile dog groomer?
Yes. Mobile grooming services travel to clients' homes, and running one usually means getting a business license.
Is dog grooming a growing career?
BLS projects 11% growth for animal care and service workers from 2025 to 2035.
Do you need experience to become a dog groomer?
Not formally, but many employers prefer people who already have experience with animals.
Is dog grooming physically hard?
It can be. BLS says animal care workers need stamina to kneel, crawl and lift, and they risk injury when handling animals.
Where do dog groomers work?
In grooming salons, kennels, veterinary clinics, pet supply stores or their own mobile grooming service.
