How long does pet groomer training take in New York?

Most paths into the pet groomer field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What apprenticeships are available for pet groomers in New York?

In New York, registered apprenticeships are administered through the New York Office of Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details.

How to Become a Pet Groomer in New York (2026)

Q: How much do pet groomers earn in New York?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), pet groomers in New York earned a median annual wage of approximately $37,840. Employment concentration in New York is roughly 0.75 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: What is the job outlook for pet groomers in New York?

New York currently employs approximately 12,470 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 12.1% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated August 27, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

New York animal caretakers earn a median annual wage of $37,840 ($18.19/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 12,470 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 7.0% above the national median of $35,360 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $37,840 ($18.19/hr)
25th percentile: $35,640 per year
75th percentile: $43,780 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $48,740 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $33,800 per year
Workers employed in New York: 12,470
Versus national median: 7.0% above the U.S. median of $35,360
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.75 - this occupation is less concentrated in New York than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed August 27, 2026.

New York employs about 12,470 pet groomers earning a median $37,840 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most pet groomers train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in New York.

Key Facts

Median wage (New York): $37,840/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Employed in New York: 12,470 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Location quotient: 0.75x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Projected growth: 12.1% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)

Pet Groomer Wages by Metro Area in New York

Animal Caretakers Wages by Metro Area in New York

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), animal caretakers wages in New York vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
New York-Newark-Jersey City	11,430	$37,900	$41,480	$34,230	$51,790
Albany-Schenectady-Troy	880	$35,640	$38,080	$32,240	$47,650
Buffalo-Cheektowaga	800	$34,840	$37,430	$32,240	$45,950
Rochester	730	$34,950	$37,160	$32,240	$45,270
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh	540	$36,360	$39,870	$33,130	$47,810
Syracuse	470	$35,500	$38,050	$32,240	$46,840
Utica-Rome	180	$35,460	$37,350	$32,240	$45,280
Kingston	150	$35,090	$38,270	$32,850	$47,360
Binghamton	130	$33,880	$35,700	$32,240	$41,080
Ithaca	100	$36,930	$38,220	$33,120	$45,440
Glens Falls	80	$35,890	$37,710	$32,240	$45,250
Watertown-Fort Drum	60	$33,810	$35,070	$32,240	$38,550
Elmira	50	$34,280	$36,060	$32,450	$41,540

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (New York): $37,840 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Pet Groomer in New York

How to become a pet groomer in New York? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for pet groomers in New York.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do pet groomers earn in New York? The median annual wage for pet groomers in New York is $37,840 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $33,800 and experienced professionals can earn $48,740 or more ¹.

How to Become a Pet Groomer in New York

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most New York training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an accredited trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in New York that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to pet groomers in New York before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for pet groomers in New York? New York currently employs approximately 12,470 pet groomers ¹. Nationally, pet groomer employment is projected to grow 12.1% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in New York? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in New York.

How much do pet groomers earn in New York compared to the national average? The median annual wage for pet groomers in New York is $37,840, which is $4,370 above the national median of $33,470 according to BLS data ¹.

In New York

Best Trade Schools in New York (2026)

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Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)