How much do dog groomers earn in the UK? Employed pay, and how to work out self-employed income

TL;DR: The National Careers Service says employed dog groomers earn £15,000 as a starter to £23,000 when experienced, working 30 to 37 hours a week. There's no reliable published figure for self-employed groomers. What you take home depends on how many dogs you do a day, what you charge and what it costs you to run. The steps below show how to work it out.

National Careers Service figures for dog groomers:

• Pay: £15,000 (starter) to £23,000 (experienced) a year
• Hours: 30 to 37 a week, and you may work evenings or weekends
• Getting in: a college course, an apprenticeship (such as the Dog Grooming Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship), or private training. The Pet Industry Federation has accredited some training organisations.
• Next step: with experience and qualifications, you could become self-employed and work from home, go mobile, or open your own salon.

Nobody can give you an honest single number. Here's how to get yours.

Step 1: Dogs a day. How many dogs can you groom well in a day? A full groom on a doodle takes longer than a bath and tidy on a Jack Russell. Count real appointments, not your best day.

Step 2: Average price per dog. Use your actual price list. Mix of small, medium and large, full grooms and bath-and-brush. If you haven't set prices yet, read how much a dog groomer should charge.

Step 3: Working days a year. Take off weekends you don't work, bank holidays, holidays, training days and a few sick days.

Step 4: Gap allowance. No-shows, late cancellations and quiet weeks in January. Take a percentage off.

Step 5: Turnover. Dogs a day × average price × working days, minus your gap allowance.

Step 6: Take off your costs.

• shampoos, conditioners, blades, sharpening
• equipment wear and replacement (dryers, tables, clippers)
• insurance
• rent, or extra household bills if you work from home
• van costs if mobile: fuel, insurance, servicing, water and power
• booking software, card fees, phone
• training and courses
• business waste collection

Step 7: Take off tax. What's left is your profit before tax. Income Tax and National Insurance come out of that, so put money aside as you go. Check GOV.UK's Self Assessment and VAT registration pages for what applies to you, or ask an accountant.

Expect some months to be busier than others. Check your bookings month by month in your first year. Don't plan your rent on your busiest month.

These change the sum above:

1. Raise prices for matted coats, difficult dogs and extra time. Agree it with the owner first, in writing.
2. Rebook at the end of every groom. A regular booked every few weeks beats a one-off.
3. Cut gaps with a cancellation policy and deposits.
4. Add services that fit your time: nail clips, teeth, de-shedding. Price each one properly.
5. Take on staff once you're turning dogs away. Before you do, read GOV.UK's guide to employers' liability insurance and talk to your insurer.

The Dog Grooming Pricing Calculator — Premium (£14.99) is an Excel workbook with 15 services pre-loaded, an expenses tracker, a job and booking log and a monthly dashboard. Put your real figures in and it shows what you're actually earning per groom. The Dog Grooming Startup Guide (£4.99) includes a startup cost breakdown and a section on scaling and growth.

Employed groomers earn £15,000 to £23,000 a year, according to the National Careers Service. Self-employed income varies too much for a single honest figure.

It depends on dogs a day, your prices, your working days and your costs. Work it out with the steps above, using your own price list.

For an employee, divide annual pay by hours worked. Self-employed, take your profit for a week and divide by every hour you worked, including cleaning, admin and messages. That last part is the number that matters.

The National Careers Service lists college courses, apprenticeships and private training as routes in. Training and experience also matter for insurance.

All accessed 1 October 2026.

• National Careers Service, "Dog groomer" (£15,000–£23,000; 30–37 hours; routes in; self-employed progression)
• GOV.UK, "Register for Self Assessment"
• GOV.UK, "Register for VAT: when to register"
• GOV.UK, "Employers' liability insurance"

This article is general information, not financial or tax advice.