Are you looking for an exciting way to earn good money?
Well, did you know that dog groomers in California have this perk?
That’s right, dog grooming in one of the coolest US states is a terrific career option.
You get to have fun at work and make some serious cash.
Sounds far-fetched, but graduating from a dog grooming program in California will help you climb your way to success.
If you want to know how to achieve that, this is the right place for you!
Table of Contents
Grooming Duties: What Does a Dog Groomer Do?
A dog groomer is someone who can turn a man’s best friend from a neglected hound into a fabulous pooch.
In fact, some call them miracle workers.
All jokes aside, a good groomer can make a significant difference in your dog’s appearance.
Always remember that a well-groomed dog is a healthy dog.
Your duty as a groomer is to take good care of your furry customers.
You’ll achieve that by performing the following tasks:
- Bathing and drying the dog
- Detangling mats
- Trimming coats and nails
- Cleaning ears
- Styling
Californian groomers know how to handle different dog breeds.
Long-haired and short-haired dogs need different approaches while bathing or trimming coats.
You’ll learn this and much more in the dog grooming program.
Sometimes, the owner will ask you to bathe their dog and use a shampoo or a flea treatment.
Yes, you’re in charge of making those nasty pests go away.
This grooming course will teach you some more detailed techniques like hand striping.
This is a process of removing rougher coats with extra care so the dogs don’t feel any pain or discomfort.
From nail clipping to stylish cuts, you’ll be prepared to face any demands a dog owner could have.
The grooming program in California is quite comprehensive.
Finishing it successfully allows you to work as a groomer without any obstacles.
How to Become a Dog Groomer in California?
Luckily, there are no special requirements prior to enrolling in a grooming school.
It’s not a must to have a high school diploma or GED equivalent, but it’s better to have one on you.
That means there are no restrictions if you want to join a grooming program in your teenage years.
After all, it’s never too early to pick your calling in life.
At school, you’re expected to complete the coursework, including written assignments and skill assessments.
Another thing that’s expected and implied is your code of conduct and professionalism.
If you’re not going to devote yourself to this course, you’re better off following a different career path.
California wants serious dog grooming candidates.
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Fortunately, you aren’t obliged to get a grooming license in California.
No agency has been legally recognized to control and issue it.
You’re free as a dog in a park chasing squirrels!
Seriously, you can start working as a groomer right after you graduate from grooming school.
Amazing news, isn’t it?
But if you want to have one, the National Dog Groomers Association of America issues one.
To qualify for the exam, you must first attend their training workshop.
Once you pass it, you’ll be recognized as a National Certified Dog Groomer.
Note that NDGAA holds workshops all over the country.
So make sure you apply on time!
Opportunities Beyond the Dog Grooming Program
Those who don’t care enough about their newly discovered grooming knowledge will end up losing it.
That’s why it’s important to further your skills.
A good groomer always follows trends and keeps those techniques sharp like the clippers they use.
After finishing a program in California, you might want to find societies where you can expand your knowledge and meet other groomers.
Here are some Californian and U.S. associations that will help you with that:
- California Dog Grooming Directory for dog grooming facilities
- California Dog Groomer Classified Ads for job opportunities
- American Kennel Club for information on how to take proper care of dogs’ health
- National Dog Groomers Association of America for more information on dog groomers and the career
Salary: How Much Can a Groomer in California Earn?
California is a state that has some exclusive areas.
That’s why the average annual salary varies from place to place.
Dog groomers here usually earn almost $40,000 per year on average.
Sometimes, it can go as high as about $58,000 a year
According to Salary.com, the data below shows how much you’ll receive if you belong to a certain percentile as of December 2021.
| Percentile | Salary |
| 10% | $25,855 |
| 25% | $32,501 |
| 50% | $39,801 |
| 75% | $49,601 |
| 90% | $58,523 |
The question now is: Are you earning enough for the services done?
Take a look at the salary table of 79 Californian cities and see for yourself.
| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Anaheim,CA | $37,206 |
| Antioch,CA | $38,110 |
| Apple Valley,CA | $35,319 |
| Bakersfield,CA | $35,758 |
| Berkeley,CA | $39,453 |
| Burbank,CA | $37,655 |
| Carlsbad,CA | $35,597 |
| Carson,CA | $37,123 |
| Chico,CA | $33,980 |
| Chula Vista,CA | $35,797 |
| Coachella,CA | $35,348 |
| Concord,CA | $37,409 |
| Corona,CA | $35,572 |
| Costa Mesa,CA | $37,123 |
| Daly City,CA | $41,950 |
| Downey,CA | $37,297 |
| El Cajon,CA | $35,690 |
| El Monte,CA | $37,615 |
| Elk Grove,CA | $36,204 |
| Escondido,CA | $35,597 |
| Fairfield,CA | $37,382 |
| Fontana,CA | $35,625 |
| Fremont,CA | $40,539 |
| Fresno,CA | $33,360 |
| Fullerton,CA | $37,206 |
| Garden Grove,CA | $37,206 |
| Glendale,CA | $37,655 |
| Hayward,CA | $39,387 |
| Huntington Beach,CA | $37,123 |
| Inglewood,CA | $37,655 |
| Irvine,CA | $37,123 |
| Lancaster,CA | $37,455 |
| Lompoc,CA | $34,725 |
| Long Beach,CA | $37,123 |
| Los Angeles,CA | $37,655 |
| Modesto,CA | $35,358 |
| Monterey,CA | $36,968 |
| Moreno Valley,CA | $35,599 |
| Murrieta,CA | $36,313 |
| Newhall,CA | $37,183 |
| Norwalk,CA | $37,158 |
| Oakland,CA | $39,453 |
| Oceanside,CA | $35,876 |
| Ontario,CA | $35,572 |
| Orange,CA | $37,123 |
| Oxnard,CA | $35,698 |
| Palmdale,CA | $37,405 |
| Pasadena,CA | $37,655 |
| Petaluma,CA | $37,456 |
| Pomona,CA | $37,126 |
| Rancho Cucamonga,CA | $35,448 |
| Rialto,CA | $35,469 |
| Richmond,CA | $39,604 |
| Riverside,CA | $35,625 |
| Roseville,CA | $36,164 |
| Sacramento,CA | $36,257 |
| Salinas,CA | $36,888 |
| San Bernardino,CA | $35,469 |
| San Diego,CA | $35,797 |
| San Francisco,CA | $41,950 |
| San Jose,CA | $40,619 |
| Santa Ana,CA | $37,156 |
| Santa Barbara,CA | $35,982 |
| Santa Clara,CA | $40,619 |
| Santa Clarita,CA | $37,121 |
| Santa Cruz,CA | $37,056 |
| Santa Maria,CA | $35,334 |
| Santa Rosa,CA | $36,357 |
| Simi Valley,CA | $36,511 |
| Stockton,CA | $35,691 |
| Sunnyvale,CA | $40,619 |
| Temecula,CA | $35,815 |
| Thousand Oaks,CA | $36,236 |
| Torrance,CA | $37,123 |
| Vallejo,CA | $37,489 |
| Ventura,CA | $35,698 |
| Victorville,CA | $35,334 |
| Visalia,CA | $33,161 |
| West Covina,CA | $37,126 |
Regional Salary in California
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA | 300 | $36,210 | $17.41 | $43,420 | $32,240 |
| Chico, CA | 170 | $36,180 | $17.39 | $44,500 | $32,240 |
| El Centro, CA | 40 | $36,620 | $17.61 | $45,210 | $32,790 |
| Fresno, CA | 530 | $37,260 | $17.91 | $41,370 | $32,240 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | 50 | $36,980 | $17.78 | $47,080 | $32,240 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 8,440 | $38,400 | $18.46 | $46,150 | $32,640 |
| Madera, CA | 90 | $37,080 | $17.83 | $44,270 | $34,770 |
| Merced, CA | 70 | $37,830 | $18.19 | $44,950 | $32,240 |
| Modesto, CA | 290 | $37,980 | $18.26 | $46,070 | $32,840 |
| Napa, CA | 130 | $41,600 | $20 | $48,380 | $34,670 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 580 | $39,770 | $19.12 | $46,450 | $32,250 |
| Redding, CA | 150 | $35,380 | $17.01 | $43,180 | $32,240 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 2,140 | $37,620 | $18.09 | $45,120 | $32,240 |
| Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA | 1,500 | $38,750 | $18.63 | $48,370 | $33,530 |
| Salinas, CA | 230 | $41,730 | $20.06 | $53,190 | $34,340 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad, CA | 2,830 | $39,590 | $19.04 | $49,980 | $33,870 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | 3,450 | $44,100 | $21.2 | $56,410 | $36,970 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 1,030 | $45,410 | $21.83 | $56,430 | $37,790 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA | 320 | $37,810 | $18.18 | $44,590 | $32,240 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 200 | $39,650 | $19.06 | $48,940 | $33,250 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 400 | $38,960 | $18.73 | $48,060 | $33,820 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | 540 | $41,510 | $19.96 | $49,920 | $35,070 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 250 | $37,700 | $18.12 | $47,080 | $32,990 |
| Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | 220 | $39,610 | $19.04 | $48,190 | $32,670 |
| Visalia-Porterville, CA | 160 | $43,040 | $20.69 | $53,680 | $32,240 |
| Yuba City, CA | 60 | $41,260 | $19.84 | $51,190 | $33,240 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Words
Among the 50 U.S. states, California offers some of the best dog grooming opportunities.
Once you decide to be a dog groomer, all you have to do are:
- Study hard
- Upgrade your skills
- Accumulate experience
That doesn’t sound difficult, does it?
Either way, you have to be prepared to dedicate yourself to this lifestyle.
Dog grooming is more than bathing dogs and styling their hair.
It’s about taking good care of their health.
After all, dogs aren’t just your customers with paws.
They’re the foundation of your life’s choice.
Show them respect, and they’ll show love in return.
With all this said, we’re asking you:
- Are you ready to be a dog groomer?
- Will you honor this life calling the best way you can?
We know only a true dog lover will give a positive answer.
Good luck, future groomers!
How to Become a Dog/Pet Groomer by State