Petco is the single largest employer of dog groomers on GroomerJob.com right now, with over 330 active grooming positions posted across the United States. If you're thinking about applying, switching salons, or starting your grooming career, Petco is almost impossible to ignore — they hire at scale, they train from scratch, and they run the most structured career ladder in the grooming industry.
This guide covers exactly what to expect from a Petco grooming career: pay by role, the Grooming Academy, the bather-to-stylist progression, benefits, and the honest pros and cons compared to independent salons.
How Many Petco Grooming Jobs Are Open Right Now?
As of this week, there are 337+ active grooming positions at Petco on our job board. Those break down roughly as:
- Dog bather / pet stylist apprentice: ~40-50% of listings
- Groomer / pet stylist: ~30-40%
- Grooming salon leader / manager: ~15-20%
- Grooming specialist / pet stylist senior: ~5-10%
Browse the full list on our Petco company page, or filter by role: bather positions, groomer positions, or grooming manager roles.
The Petco Grooming Career Ladder
1. Dog Bather / Pet Stylist Apprentice
Entry-level. No grooming experience required. You learn bathing, drying, brushing, nail trimming, ear cleaning, and salon safety on the job. Typical pay: $14-$18/hour depending on location. This is how 90% of Petco groomers start — including most of the senior stylists at your local store.
2. Petco Grooming Academy
After 6-12 months as a bather, top performers get invited into the 20-week Petco Grooming Academy. The academy combines online coursework with in-salon hands-on training under a certified instructor. You're paid your regular wage throughout — unlike private grooming schools that cost $3,000-$6,000 out of pocket. For most groomers this is the biggest financial advantage of the Petco path.
Compare this to independent certification programs where tuition alone can exceed $5,000.
3. Pet Stylist / Groomer
Post-academy, you start as a pet stylist. Pay moves to hourly or commission depending on location. Most Petco stylists earn in the $18-$25/hour range, or 45-50% commission. At busy stores averaging 6-8 grooms per day, commission stylists report $45,000-$65,000 annual income including tips.
See our guide on commission vs hourly groomer pay to understand which structure works best at different career stages.
4. Senior Pet Stylist / Master Stylist
With 2-3 years of experience and strong speed + quality, stylists advance to senior roles with higher commission rates, more complex breed-standard work, and mentorship responsibilities. Annual earnings: $55,000-$75,000+.
5. Grooming Salon Leader / Manager
Operational role — schedule, team leadership, P&L, client complaints, and training. Annual salary: $55,000-$80,000 depending on store size and performance bonuses. This is where the business side takes over from the craft side.
Petco Grooming Pay: Real Numbers
Pulled from live Petco listings on GroomerJob.com:
- Bather: $14-$18/hour (most common: $15-$16)
- Groomer / pet stylist: $18-$25/hour or 45-50% commission
- Senior stylist: $22-$28/hour or 50% commission with higher per-groom fees
- Salon leader / manager: $55,000-$80,000 annual
Tips add 10-20% on top of base pay — typically $5,000-$12,000/year at Petco's volume. Benefits (health, 401k, employee discount) add another $5,000-$10,000 of effective value per year for full-time staff.
Use our salary calculator for a personalized estimate based on your state and experience level.
Petco Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance (full-time)
- 401k with company match
- Paid time off and paid holidays
- Employee discount on Petco products and services
- Tuition reimbursement and continued education stipends
- Paid training (Grooming Academy)
- Career advancement pipelines
These benefits are a major advantage over most independent salons, which often offer none of the above.
Pros of Working at Petco
- Zero-cost grooming education via the Grooming Academy
- Predictable schedule and steady volume
- Real benefits (health, 401k, PTO)
- Nationwide job portability — move to a new state and keep your career
- Clear promotion pathway with documented milestones
- Corporate safety protocols protect you from liability
- Bather support at most stores (you don't bathe your own dogs)
Cons of Working at Petco
- Lower per-groom commission rates than premium independent salons
- Corporate service menu — less room for breed-standard and competition grooming
- Higher volume focus can feel production-line to experienced stylists
- Your book is Petco's book — you can't take clients when you leave
- Retail upsell expectations (teeth brushing, de-shedding, add-ons)
How to Get Hired at Petco
Step 1: Apply as a Bather First
Even if you have grooming experience, consider starting as a bather. The Petco Grooming Academy is a faster path to a Petco stylist role than applying as an external groomer. Plus — you get paid during training.
Step 2: Prepare for the Interview
Petco uses structured behavioral interviews. Review our bather interview questions and be ready to talk about physical stamina, animal comfort, and long-term interest in grooming as a career.
Step 3: Polish Your Resume
See our dog groomer resume guide for what hiring managers at franchise salons look for. Any dog-related experience (rescue volunteering, dog walking, pet-sitting) helps significantly for bather applications.
Step 4: Apply at Multiple Locations
Petco hires rapidly and openings close fast. Browse all Petco grooming openings and apply to every location within a commutable distance. The first interview you land is often your best offer.
Petco vs PetSmart
Both franchises hire at scale, pay roughly similar wages, and offer employer-paid grooming academies. Key differences:
- Petco's Academy: 20 weeks, online + in-salon blend
- PetSmart's Academy: 16-20 weeks, heavier in-salon apprenticeship
- Petco tends to have more mid-market pricing; PetSmart often higher base salon pricing
- PetSmart has a reputation for higher-volume stores in certain markets; Petco has broader geographic coverage
Our full PetSmart grooming jobs guide goes deeper on the comparison.
FAQs
Do I need experience to work at Petco as a groomer?
Not for the bather role. Petco hires bathers with zero prior grooming experience and trains them on the job. For groomer / pet stylist roles, you'll need either the Petco Grooming Academy certification or 1-2+ years of independent grooming experience.
How long is Petco's Grooming Academy?
20 weeks. You're paid your bather wage throughout. Graduates emerge as Petco Certified Pet Stylists and typically see a pay increase immediately.
How much do Petco groomers make?
Entry-level bathers earn $14-$18/hour ($28,000-$36,000/year). Staff pet stylists earn $18-$25/hour or 45-50% commission, typically netting $40,000-$60,000 with tips. Senior stylists and master stylists can reach $65,000-$75,000+. Salon leaders run $55,000-$80,000 with performance bonuses.
Is Petco a good place to start a grooming career?
Yes, particularly if you don't have $3,000-$6,000 for private grooming school. The free, paid-during-training Grooming Academy is one of the best career-on-ramp programs in the pet industry. You trade some upside ceiling for training that would otherwise cost you thousands of dollars.
Can I leave Petco and take my clients?
No — your client book belongs to Petco, not you. Most Petco employment agreements include non-solicitation terms. This is a real consideration if your long-term goal is to open your own salon or go mobile.
Do Petco groomers get benefits?
Full-time Petco groomers get health insurance (medical, dental, vision), 401k match, PTO, paid holidays, and employee discounts. This is a meaningful difference from most independent salons, which usually offer none of these.
Next Steps
If Petco sounds like the right fit, browse open Petco grooming positions or search by role: bather jobs, groomer jobs, manager jobs. Polish your resume with our resume guide, then review the interview prep for your target role before you apply.
