Grooming Manager Salary
Based on 145 live job postings on GroomerJob.com. Average salary range: $38,551 – $52,118 per year.
Avg Min
$38,551
Avg Max
$52,118
Range Low
$31,200
Range High
$145,600
Browse 145 active Grooming Manager jobs
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Grooming Manager Salary Overview
Grooming Managers run the salon: booking, staff scheduling, quality control, customer relations, and usually some hands-on grooming. Managers earn $38,551 to $52,118 — the premium reflects people-management responsibility on top of grooming skill. Utah currently leads the country in Grooming Manager pay, averaging $45,183 – $45,183 across 3 active listings. Most managers have 3–5 years of grooming experience plus demonstrated leadership in shift-lead or senior-groomer roles. Petco has the most open Grooming Manager positions right now with 143 active listings across 41 states.
Top-Paying States for Grooming Managers
| # | State | Jobs | Avg Min | Avg Max | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Utah | 3 | $45,183 | $45,183 | View jobs → |
| 2 | Connecticut | 4 | $44,916 | $44,916 | View jobs → |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | 8 | $44,914 | $44,914 | View jobs → |
| 4 | Washington | 8 | $44,200 | $72,800 | View jobs → |
| 5 | Wisconsin | 3 | $43,981 | $43,981 | View jobs → |
| 6 | Florida | 5 | $43,393 | $43,393 | View jobs → |
| 7 | New Hampshire | 3 | $43,389 | $43,389 | View jobs → |
| 8 | Michigan | 4 | $43,220 | $43,220 | View jobs → |
| 9 | Virginia | 9 | $43,153 | $43,153 | View jobs → |
| 10 | Missouri | 4 | $42,808 | $42,808 | View jobs → |
Top Employers Hiring Grooming Managers
| # | Employer | Open Jobs | States | Avg Min | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Petco | 143 | 41 | $37,795 | Open jobs → |
| 2 | Best Friends Pet Care | 1 | 1 | $50,000 | Open jobs → |
| 3 | Four-Legged Fun Zone | 1 | 1 | $135,200 | Open jobs → |
By Employment Type
full time
143 jobs
$38,435 – $52,192
part time
2 jobs
$46,850 – $46,850
Hourly vs. Salaried
Yearly
145 jobs
$38,551 – $52,118
What Grooming Managers Do
- Schedule staff, assign dogs to groomers based on skill and workload.
- Hire, train, and evaluate groomers and bathers.
- Handle escalated customer issues (missed appointments, complaints, special-needs dogs).
- Monitor salon revenue, average ticket, rebooking rate, and staff productivity.
- Order supplies (shampoos, blades, finishing sprays) and manage budgets.
- Often still groom part-time to maintain skills and help during rushes.
How to Increase Your Grooming Manager Salary
Get certified
Certifications from the NDGAA (Certified Master Groomer), IPG (International Professional Groomers), or breed-specific programs add credibility and typically shift pay up 10–20%. Some employers pay a certification bonus on top of base salary.
Specialize in difficult breeds
Double-coated breeds, hand-stripping, Asian fusion styling, and Doodle coat work all command premium pricing. Groomers with a verifiable portfolio in any of these specialties charge more per groom and earn more in tips.
Move to a higher-paying market
State-level pay varies dramatically. Currently Utah tops the list at $45,183 avg minimum. Urban markets with high pet spend typically pay 15–30% more than rural ones.
Build a booked-out client book
Groomers who run at 90%+ capacity with repeat customers earn more than equally-skilled groomers with gaps. Many salons pay on commission (40–60% of groom price), so capacity utilization compounds directly into take-home pay.
Take on multi-location responsibility
Moving from single-salon Grooming Manager to Grooming Salon Leader with multi-location responsibility typically adds $10,000–$25,000 to base pay plus bonus eligibility.
Top Cities Hiring Grooming Managers
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