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Salon & mobile
Dog Groomer
Mobile grooming is where this turns into real money.
Typical pay
$30k-$75k
How you get in
Apprenticeship or grooming school, 3-12 months
Outlook
Growing steadily with pet spending
Groomers bathe, clip and style dogs and cats. Salon employment pays a commission split; mobile grooming with your own van commands premium pricing and a waiting list in most markets.
A day in the life
- 7:30aSet up, review the day's dogs and their notes
- 8:00aFirst dog — bath, dry, brush out
- 10:00aBreed-standard clip on a doodle, two hours
- 12:30pQuick lunch between appointments
- 1:30pNail trims and a nervous rescue that needs patience
- 5:00pSanitize, sharpen blades, confirm tomorrow
How to get in
Bather to groomer
Duration
6-18 months
Cost
$0 — paid from day one
Credential
None required in most states
- Get hired as a bather or brusher at a salon or big-box pet store
- Learn handling, drying and breed basics on the job
- Practice clipping under a senior groomer
- Move to the table and start taking your own appointments
Grooming school
Duration
3-6 months
Cost
$3,000-$12,000
Credential
Certificate; NDGAA certification optional but respected
- Complete a grooming program with hands-on dog time, not just theory
- Learn breed standards and scissoring technique properly
- Get certified through NDGAA or IPG to stand out
- Start at a salon to build speed before going independent
Mobile grooming business
Duration
1-3 years after learning the craft
Cost
$25,000-$90,000 for a built-out van
Credential
Business license and insurance
- Build speed and a client book while employed
- Buy or convert a grooming van with tub, dryer and generator
- Charge a premium — clients pay well for convenience and one-on-one care
- Highest margins in the field, and you control the schedule
What people love
- · No license required in most states
- · Mobile grooming commands premium rates
- · Loyal repeat clients every 6-8 weeks
- · You work with animals all day
What wears people down
- · Bites and scratches are routine
- · Back, wrist and shoulder strain
- · Anxious or aggressive dogs are genuinely dangerous
- · Salon commission splits take half your revenue