Grooming Manager Salary
Based on 120 live job postings on GroomerJob.com. Average salary range: $40,506 – $53,672 per year.
Avg Min
$40,506
Avg Max
$53,672
Range Low
$31,200
Range High
$124,817
Browse 120 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 $40,506 to $53,672 — the premium reflects people-management responsibility on top of grooming skill. Connecticut currently leads the country in Grooming Manager pay, averaging $65,726 – $65,726 across 4 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 107 active listings across 32 states.
Top-Paying States for Grooming Managers
| # | State | Jobs | Avg Min | Avg Max | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | 4 | $65,726 | $65,726 | View jobs → |
| 2 | New Jersey | 6 | $57,508 | $74,021 | View jobs → |
| 3 | Arizona | 3 | $49,484 | $49,484 | View jobs → |
| 4 | Texas | 5 | $46,761 | $46,761 | View jobs → |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 3 | $46,703 | $46,703 | View jobs → |
| 6 | Utah | 3 | $44,656 | $44,656 | View jobs → |
| 7 | Florida | 4 | $44,206 | $44,206 | View jobs → |
| 8 | Idaho | 3 | $44,197 | $44,197 | View jobs → |
| 9 | Virginia | 7 | $44,019 | $44,019 | View jobs → |
| 10 | South Carolina | 3 | $43,921 | $43,921 | View jobs → |
Top Employers Hiring Grooming Managers
| # | Employer | Open Jobs | States | Avg Min | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Petco | 107 | 32 | $38,035 | Open jobs → |
| 2 | Sparkle Grooming Co. | 5 | 2 | $68,879 | Open jobs → |
| 3 | Scenthound Lakeway, TX | 2 | 1 | $51,138 | Open jobs → |
| 4 | Aperio Talent Solutions | 1 | 1 | $34,748 | Open jobs → |
| 5 | BarkSuds Austin | 1 | 1 | $46,196 | Open jobs → |
| 6 | Designer Paws Salon | 1 | 1 | $41,000 | Open jobs → |
| 7 | Diego Dogs Grooming | 1 | 1 | $53,263 | Open jobs → |
| 8 | Edgewell Personal Care | 1 | 1 | $124,817 | Open jobs → |
| 9 | Hydrant Dog Wash | 1 | 1 | $44,283 | Open jobs → |
By Employment Type
full time
114 jobs
$38,964 – $52,548
part time
1 job
$31,200 – $62,400
Hourly vs. Salaried
Yearly
120 jobs
$40,506 – $53,672
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 Connecticut tops the list at $65,726 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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