by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Dog/Pet/Animal Grooming covers Dog/pet/animal Grooming. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Provide Cosmetic Services For Household Pets, Show Animals, Work Animals And Animal Athletes. Includes Instruction In Skin, Coat, And Pelt Grooming And Styling; Skin Care; Hoof, Nail, And Claw Care; Animal Massage; Minor First Aid And Veterinary Referral; Animal Grooming Products And Applications; Health And Safety; And Applicable Regulations. Continue reading for the important information every dog/pet/animal grooming major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering dog/pet/animal grooming programs.
In the U.S., dog/pet/animal grooming draws strong interest, with 519 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Dog/Pet/Animal Grooming Schools ranking analyzes these 10 schools to determine the best overall colleges for dog/pet/animal grooming students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of dog/pet/animal grooming programs later in this article.
Programs in Dog/Pet/Animal Grooming emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations dog/pet/animal grooming graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a dog/pet/animal grooming program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a dog/pet/animal grooming major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several dog/pet/animal grooming degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 356 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 7 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 156 |
People currently working in careers related to dog/pet/animal grooming tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 31.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 25.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 17.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 10.1% |
| Master’s degree | 4.7% |
| Some college courses | 4.3% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 3.6% |
| Doctoral degree | 2.9% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in dog/pet/animal grooming careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in dog/pet/animal grooming opens doors to many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to dog/pet/animal grooming.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to dog/pet/animal grooming.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 202,912 | 0.6% |
| Animal Caretakers | 138,286 | 11.7% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of dog/pet/animal grooming graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $25,658 |
| 4 years | $29,442 |
| 5 years | $34,298 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for dog/pet/animal grooming graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers dog/pet/animal grooming grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $86,398 |
| Animal Caretakers | $22,332 |
With 10 different dog/pet/animal grooming programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased dog/pet/animal grooming school rankings to help you.
Students interested in dog/pet/animal grooming, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Equestrian/Equine Studies | 658 |
| Animal Training | 172 |
| Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services, Other | 65 |
| Taxidermy/Taxidermist | 10 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
