How long does pet groomer training take in Virginia?

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 Virginia?

In Virginia, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry - Registered 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 Virginia (2026)

Q: How much do pet groomers earn in Virginia?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), pet groomers in Virginia earned a median annual wage of approximately $34,380. Employment concentration in Virginia is about 1.43 times the national average for this occupation.

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

Virginia currently employs approximately 10,070 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

Virginia animal caretakers earn a median annual wage of $34,380 ($16.53/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 10,070 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -2.8% below the national median of $35,360 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $34,380 ($16.53/hr)
25th percentile: $29,490 per year
75th percentile: $38,120 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $46,180 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $28,050 per year
Workers employed in Virginia: 10,070
Versus national median: -2.8% below the U.S. median of $35,360
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.43 - this occupation is more concentrated in Virginia than the national average

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

Virginia employs about 10,070 pet groomers earning a median $34,380 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most pet groomers train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Virginia.

Key Facts

Median wage (Virginia): $34,380/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Employed in Virginia: 10,070 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Location quotient: 1.43x 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 Virginia

Animal Caretakers Wages by Metro Area in Virginia

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	6,590	$37,710	$40,900	$30,160	$55,020
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk	1,990	$30,870	$33,900	$27,680	$43,890
Richmond	1,540	$33,710	$35,130	$28,150	$46,770
Charlottesville	370	$35,190	$36,170	$28,870	$46,070
Roanoke	350	$30,060	$33,630	$26,510	$42,780
Lynchburg	220	$28,800	$32,860	$26,810	$40,590
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford	160	$28,160	$32,520	$27,040	$44,330
Kingsport-Bristol	150	$29,290	$31,290	$23,760	$42,390
Harrisonburg	140	$31,980	$34,010	$27,630	$46,070
Staunton-Stuarts Draft	120	$28,940	$33,320	$27,260	$43,280
Winchester	100	$30,470	$33,000	$26,350	$43,650

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 (Virginia): $34,380 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Pet Groomer in Virginia

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

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 Virginia? The median annual wage for pet groomers in Virginia is $34,380 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $28,050 and experienced professionals can earn $46,180 or more ¹.

How to Become a Pet Groomer in Virginia

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Virginia 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 Virginia 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 Virginia 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 Virginia? Virginia currently employs approximately 10,070 pet groomers ¹. Nationally, pet groomer employment is projected to grow 12.1% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do pet groomers earn in Virginia compared to the national average? The median annual wage for pet groomers in Virginia is $34,380, which is $910 above the national median of $33,470 according to BLS data ¹.

In Virginia

Best Trade Schools in Virginia (2026)

Explore More Trades in Virginia

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)