6563-NOC

Pet groomers and animal care workers

(NOC 65220)
Annual Earnings
$34,934
Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities
No Formal Education
Job Openings
(2023-2033)
1,220

Career Overview

Animal care workers feed, handle, train and groom animals and assist veterinarians, animal health technologists and technicians and animal breeders. Pet groomers clip coats, bathe and otherwise groom pets.

People in this occupation:

  • Work with cats and dogs most often, but may also care for other animals, depending on the work environment
  • Work for animal hospitals and clinics, animal shelters, breeding and boarding facilities, zoos, laboratories, retail pet shops, dog training schools or pet grooming establishments
  • May be self-employed
  • Customer service and administrative skills are assets for pet groomers and some animal care workers
  • Should have a love of animals
  • Good observation skills, interpersonal skills and an ability to exercise gentle and secure restraint are also required

 

Duties

Pet groomers and animal care workers:

  • Prepare food and feed animals, fish or birds at scheduled intervals
  • Clean and disinfect cages, pens and surrounding areas
  • Shampoo, clip and groom animals
  • Assist veterinarians and animal health technologists and technicians to inoculate and treat animals
  • Assist animal breeders to handle and nurture animals
  • Assist scientists and researchers in conducting laboratory tests with animals
  • Monitor and document animal behaviour
  • Train dogs to obey commands and perform specific duties in response to signals

 

Earnings

Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.

Annual Earnings

$34,934

Provincial Hourly Rate

High$20.75/hr
Median$16.75/hr
Low$16.75/hr
Source: B.C. Labour Market Information Office, derived from 2023 Job Bank Wage data

Work Environment

# Workers Employed

3,885

% Employed Full Time

28%
Source: 2021 Census

Pet groomers and animal care workers usually work indoors. These workers may get wet and dirty while bathing animals. They are also sometimes required to lift heavy animals.

Many work irregular hours, including evenings and weekends. Some groomers may travel to customers' homes and some animal care workers may travel to pick up stray animals.

Animal care workers in veterinary clinics or labs typically work as part of a team. Dog trainers work mostly with dog owners, relying on their people skills as much as their animal behaviour modification skills.

Self-employed groomers are required to provide their own equipment.

Handling animals can pose some hazards so proper care is needed to avoid bites and scratches. A strong understanding of animal behaviour helps workers recognize when animals are upset so they can avoid such injuries. Other hazards include slipping on wet floors, back strain or electrical shocks or burns from dryers.

Career Pathways

Workers with experience and further education may progress to other occupations, such as animal health technologist, supervisor or manager of animal care facilities, certified master groomer or grooming instructor.

Some veterinary clinics may allow veterinary attendants to perform some of the duties of an animal health technician if there is a registered animal health technician in the clinic to provide supervision.

Workers in this occupational group may also decide to open their own grooming businesses or kennels.

Occupational Interests

It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.

For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.

Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:

Realistic
Realistic

Job Titles

Animal care worker (except farm)
Dog groomer
Dog trainer
Kennel attendant
Laboratory animal attendant
Pet groomer
Pound attendant
Veterinary attendant
Zoo attendant

Education, Training and Skills

Completion of secondary school is generally required to work in this occupational group. Other requirements may include:

  • Training courses in animal handling, grooming or dog training
  • A veterinary technology diploma or an equivalent combination of education, experience and certification
  • Certification by a reputable training school for pet trainers

 

Education programs in B.C.

The following program areas are related to this occupation:

  • Academic/Basic Upgrading
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Find out more information about programs offered specifically for this career.

Skills

Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.

Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.

See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!

Speaking

Talking to others to share information effectively.

54%
Monitoring

Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

53%
Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

51%
Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

51%
Judgment and Decision Making

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

51%
Service Orientation

Actively looking for ways to help people.

50%
Coordination

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

50%
Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

48%
Instructing

Teaching others how to do something.

48%
Social Perceptiveness

Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

46%

Labour Market Statistics

Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.

Employment

Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.

Employment

3,885
Source: 2021 Census

Employment by Region

Map of BC Map of BC highlighting Cariboo region Map of BC highlighting Kootenay region Map of BC highlighting Mainland/Southwest region Map of BC highlighting North Coast and Nechako region Map of BC highlighting Northeast region Map of BC highlighting Thompson-Okanagan region Map of BC highlighting Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
Region Employment % Employment of this Occupation
Cariboo 115 3.0%
Kootenay 180 4.6%
Mainland/Southwest 2,105 54.1%
North Coast and Nechako 55 1.4%
Northeast 50 1.3%
Thompson-Okanagan 535 13.8%
Vancouver Island/Coast 840 21.6%
Source: 2021 Census

Labour Market Outlook

The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.

Forecasted Job Openings (2023-2033)

1,220
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Forecasted Job Openings

Forecasted Employment Growth Rate

Composition of Job Openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job Openings by Region (2023-2033)

Map of BC Map of BC highlighting Cariboo region Map of BC highlighting Kootenay region Map of BC highlighting Mainland/Southwest region Map of BC highlighting North Coast and Nechako region Map of BC highlighting Northeast region Map of BC highlighting Thompson-Okanagan region Map of BC highlighting Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
Region Job Openings Avg. Annual Employment Growth
Cariboo 30 1.1%
Kootenay 40 0.5%
Mainland/Southwest 580 1.1%
North Coast and Nechako 30 2.7%
Northeast 10 1.2%
Thompson-Okanagan 200 1.3%
Vancouver Island/Coast 320 1.5%
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Industry Highlights

Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.

Forecasted Job Openings by Industry

IndustryJob Openings (2023-2033)
Repair, Personal And Non-Profit Services990
Retail Trade90
Professional, Scientific And Technical Services50
Information, Culture And Recreation40
Health Care And Social Assistance20
For additional industry information, visit the Industry Profiles page.
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Insights from Industry

More job openings will become available in the next few years as a result of worker turnover than from new job creation.

The average age of those working in this occupational group in B.C. is younger than the provincial average. Therefore, there will be a limited number of positions available to replace existing workers who retire.

Industry sources expect growth in demand for these workers will be strongest in the Mainland/Southwest. Workers with veterinary assistant or grooming certification are expected to have an advantage in finding work in this field. In addition, the recent popularity of dog obedience classes and dog sports has resulted in a higher demand for dog trainers, particularly in urban centres.

Resources