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A dog groomer has a unique job description with rewarding aspects.
This career is on rising demand in recent years, and it won’t change anytime soon.
But why is it so?
Well, our dog friends need proper grooming to maintain their good health status.
Grooming isn’t a luxury; it’s a need that can’t be ignored.
So if you want to be a dog groomer in Illinois, then here’s how you can get started.
Table of Contents
What Does a Dog Groomer Do?
Don’t be fooled by the fact dog grooming is something everyone could do.
It’s still a serious career with lots of responsibilities and tasks.
We can divide the groomer’s duties into three categories:
- Technical tasks
- Social tasks
- Grooming process
Technical Tasks
Under technical tasks are those that you need to do before and after tending to a dog.
This involves preparing, cleaning, and sanitizing the workstation and tools and equipment used.
Social Tasks
Social tasks are those where your communication skills come to shine.
It can be equated to “customer service” where you need to make a good connection with clients.
That is, it involves:
- Talking to and advising clients
- Scheduling appointments
Grooming Process
Hygienic care is another important component of a dog groomer’s job description.
Before bathing and clipping, you must make sure the dog doesn’t have any skin conditions or infections.
If you notice something wrong, notify the owner immediately.
This way, you can prevent serious problems that may occur on the dog’s skin, coat, ear, eyes, and nails.
Speaking of nails, it’s important to clip them since overgrown nails are painful to dogs.
As a beginner, this process may appear overwhelming, but with time, you can master it.
How to calm a dog, tend to one, and make both the owner and the dog happy will be a piece of cake in no time.
Grooming Techniques
In the course of dog grooming, you’ll use techniques to properly groom dogs, including:
- Clipping
- Cutting
- Bathing
- Drying
- Styling
These are basic and essential grooming methods, but there are special and advanced ones as well.
Two of them are hand-stripping and hand-scissoring.
For example, in hand-scissoring, you’ll remove some of the dog’s coat and give it depth and layers.
Both methods are useful and painless ways to make a dog look fresh and healthy.
Also, unique styling methods are used when a dog owner demands a more distinctive look for their tail-wagging friend.
Popular Programs
Get your accredited and budget-friendly associate degree or career diploma entirely online!
Veterinary AssistantVeterinary TechnicianVet Office ManagerDog ObediencePet GroomingSponsored Online Programs.Education and Training in Illinois
It doesn’t matter if you’re a young adult or a mature individual.
It doesn’t even matter if you got a high school diploma or a GED equivalent.
People of all ages and backgrounds are welcome to enroll in any dog grooming school in Illinois.
Every school expects you to behave accordingly and professionality.
That is, you must complete the required coursework and hands-on practices as per their curriculum.
Afterward, you can take their exam to become a certified professional.
Job Opportunities in Illinois
When it comes to dog grooming, finding a job and keeping it won’t be a problem.
That’s because Illinois offers plenty of job opportunities for future dog groomers.
In fact, the market in bigger cities like Chicago is quite diverse.
The equation is simple: big city + dog groomer = many job openings and a better paycheck.
You can apply for a job in any of these facilities:
- Dog kennels
- Animal shelters
- Pet stores
- Vet clinics
- Grooming salons
- Private businesses
It’s up to you to choose where you see yourself working in the future.
Many dog groomers find joy in working with sheltered dogs.
Others prefer to start their career by establishing a personal business.
Either way, you’re good as long as you’re helping dogs and feeling great about yourself.
Potential Salary in Illinois
Your salary as a dog groomer in Illinois depends on:
- Education
- Level of experience
- Place you’re working at
Big city dog groomers earn a bigger annual salary than their colleagues in smaller communities.
According to Salary.com, you can expect to earn an average of $36,701 annually as of February 2022.
And if you’re a well-established dog groomer, you can earn somewhere between $30,001 and $45,801.
Here’s the salary percentile for your reference.
Percentile | Salary |
10% | $23,901 |
25% | $30,001 |
50% | $36,701 |
75% | $45,801 |
90% | $54,086 |
If you want to know the salary in your city or area, then feel free to check the salary table below.
Average Annual Salary by Location
Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
---|---|
Abingdon, IL | $31,880 |
Adair, IL | $32,436 |
Addieville, IL | $32,894 |
Addison, IL | $35,757 |
Akin, IL | $31,499 |
Albany, IL | $31,110 |
Albers, IL | $32,894 |
Albion, IL | $30,868 |
Alden, IL | $33,330 |
Aledo, IL | $31,116 |
Alexander, IL | $30,926 |
Alexis, IL | $31,094 |
Algonquin, IL | $34,414 |
Alhambra, IL | $32,894 |
Allendale, IL | $30,463 |
Allerton, IL | $31,295 |
Alma, IL | $31,611 |
Alpha, IL | $31,118 |
Alsey, IL | $30,886 |
Alsip, IL | $35,811 |
Altamont, IL | $30,844 |
Alto Pass, IL | $32,894 |
Alton, IL | $33,002 |
Altona, IL | $31,296 |
Alvin, IL | $31,439 |
Amboy, IL | $33,619 |
Anchor, IL | $31,439 |
Ancona, IL | $32,436 |
Andalusia, IL | $31,122 |
Andover, IL | $31,002 |
Anna, IL | $31,479 |
Annapolis, IL | $30,566 |
Annawan, IL | $31,085 |
Antioch, IL | $33,160 |
Apple River, IL | $33,246 |
Arcola, IL | $31,405 |
Arenzville, IL | $30,886 |
Argenta, IL | $31,343 |
Arlington, IL | $33,027 |
Arlington Heights, IL | $34,954 |
Armington, IL | $31,971 |
Armstrong, IL | $31,452 |
Aroma Park, IL | $33,345 |
Arrowsmith, IL | $31,439 |
Arthur, IL | $31,439 |
Ashkum, IL | $32,392 |
Ashland, IL | $30,967 |
Ashley, IL | $32,894 |
Ashmore, IL | $30,951 |
Ashton, IL | $33,619 |
Assumption, IL | $30,886 |
Astoria, IL | $30,886 |
Athens, IL | $31,061 |
Atkinson, IL | $31,094 |
Atlanta, IL | $31,780 |
Atwood, IL | $31,439 |
Auburn, IL | $30,994 |
Augusta, IL | $31,661 |
Aurora, IL | $35,554 |
Ava, IL | $32,894 |
Aviston, IL | $32,894 |
Avon, IL | $32,436 |
Baileyville, IL | $33,619 |
Baldwin, IL | $32,436 |
Bardolph, IL | $32,436 |
Barnhill, IL | $31,499 |
Barrington, IL | $34,736 |
Barry, IL | $30,886 |
Barstow, IL | $31,096 |
Bartelso, IL | $32,894 |
Bartlett, IL | $35,677 |
Basco, IL | $31,329 |
Batavia, IL | $35,677 |
Batchtown, IL | $32,894 |
Bath, IL | $31,375 |
Baylis, IL | $30,886 |
Beardstown, IL | $30,886 |
Beason, IL | $31,403 |
Beaverville, IL | $33,345 |
Beckemeyer, IL | $32,894 |
Bedford Park, IL | $35,865 |
Beecher, IL | $34,081 |
Beecher City, IL | $30,886 |
Belknap, IL | $30,772 |
Belle Rive, IL | $31,499 |
Belleville, IL | $33,109 |
Bellflower, IL | $31,493 |
Bellmont, IL | $30,852 |
Bellwood, IL | $35,852 |
Belvidere, IL | $33,754 |
Bement, IL | $31,479 |
Benld, IL | $32,894 |
Bensenville, IL | $35,798 |
Benson, IL | $32,436 |
Benton, IL | $31,499 |
Berkeley, IL | $35,825 |
Berwick, IL | $31,213 |
Berwyn, IL | $35,879 |
Bethalto, IL | $32,984 |
Bethany, IL | $31,439 |
Big Rock, IL | $34,854 |
Biggsville, IL | $31,009 |
Bingham, IL | $30,886 |
Bishop Hill, IL | $31,214 |
Bismarck, IL | $31,439 |
Blackstone, IL | $32,436 |
Blandinsville, IL | $31,440 |
Bloomingdale, IL | $35,335 |
Bloomington, IL | $32,173 |
Blue Island, IL | $35,798 |
Blue Mound, IL | $30,886 |
Bluff Springs, IL | $30,886 |
Bluffs, IL | $30,886 |
Bluford, IL | $30,914 |
Boles, IL | $30,772 |
Bolingbrook, IL | $34,964 |
Bondville, IL | $31,641 |
Bone Gap, IL | $30,743 |
Bonfield, IL | $33,345 |
Bonnie, IL | $32,197 |
Boody, IL | $30,915 |
Bourbonnais, IL | $33,345 |
Bowen, IL | $31,661 |
Braceville, IL | $34,511 |
Bradford, IL | $32,345 |
Bradley, IL | $33,345 |
Braidwood, IL | $34,511 |
Breese, IL | $32,894 |
Bridgeport, IL | $30,490 |
Bridgeview, IL | $35,838 |
Brighton, IL | $32,894 |
Brimfield, IL | $32,530 |
Bristol, IL | $35,677 |
Broadlands, IL | $31,506 |
Broadview, IL | $35,865 |
Brocton, IL | $31,080 |
Brookfield, IL | $35,865 |
Brookport, IL | $30,044 |
Broughton, IL | $31,499 |
Browning, IL | $30,886 |
Browns, IL | $30,877 |
Brownstown, IL | $31,890 |
Brussels, IL | $32,894 |
Bryant, IL | $32,436 |
Buckingham, IL | $33,345 |
Buckley, IL | $31,439 |
Buckner, IL | $32,197 |
Buda, IL | $31,555 |
Buffalo, IL | $31,034 |
Buffalo Grove, IL | $34,728 |
Buffalo Prairie, IL | $31,322 |
Bulpitt, IL | $30,967 |
Buncombe, IL | $30,772 |
Bunker Hill, IL | $32,894 |
Burbank, IL | $35,852 |
Bureau, IL | $32,436 |
Burlington, IL | $33,861 |
Burnt Prairie, IL | $31,499 |
Bushnell, IL | $32,436 |
Butler, IL | $30,886 |
Byron, IL | $33,767 |
Cabery, IL | $32,392 |
Cairo, IL | $30,044 |
Caledonia, IL | $33,767 |
Calhoun, IL | $30,328 |
Calumet City, IL | $33,534 |
Camargo, IL | $31,370 |
Cambria, IL | $32,197 |
Cambridge, IL | $31,118 |
Camden, IL | $30,886 |
Cameron, IL | $31,113 |
Camp Grove, IL | $32,436 |
Camp Point, IL | $30,886 |
Campbell Hill, IL | $32,894 |
Campus, IL | $33,487 |
Canton, IL | $32,449 |
Cantrall, IL | $31,088 |
Capron, IL | $33,673 |
Carbon Cliff, IL | $31,096 |
Carbondale, IL | $32,197 |
Carlinville, IL | $31,173 |
Carlock, IL | $32,436 |
Carlyle, IL | $32,894 |
Carman, IL | $31,108 |
Carmi, IL | $31,499 |
Carol Stream, IL | $35,355 |
Carpentersville, IL | $34,867 |
Carrier Mills, IL | $31,499 |
Carrollton, IL | $32,894 |
Carterville, IL | $32,197 |
Carthage, IL | $31,440 |
Cary, IL | $34,295 |
Casey, IL | $30,721 |
Caseyville, IL | $33,163 |
Castleton, IL | $32,362 |
Catlin, IL | $31,279 |
Cave In Rock, IL | $31,499 |
Cedar Point, IL | $32,436 |
Cedarville, IL | $33,619 |
Centralia, IL | $32,894 |
Cerro Gordo, IL | $31,412 |
Chadwick, IL | $32,863 |
Chambersburg, IL | $30,886 |
Champaign, IL | $31,641 |
Chana, IL | $33,660 |
Chandlerville, IL | $30,886 |
Channahon, IL | $34,977 |
Chapin, IL | $30,886 |
Charleston, IL | $30,990 |
Chatham, IL | $31,088 |
Chatsworth, IL | $31,439 |
Chebanse, IL | $33,345 |
Chenoa, IL | $32,436 |
Cherry, IL | $32,436 |
Cherry Valley, IL | $33,821 |
Chester, IL | $32,894 |
Chesterfield, IL | $31,967 |
Chestnut, IL | $31,027 |
Chicago, IL | $35,879 |
Chicago Heights, IL | $33,453 |
Chicago Ridge, IL | $35,825 |
Chillicothe, IL | $32,543 |
Chrisman, IL | $30,980 |
Christopher, IL | $32,197 |
Cicero, IL | $35,879 |
Cisco, IL | $31,439 |
Cisne, IL | $30,328 |
Cissna Park, IL | $31,439 |
Clare, IL | $33,633 |
Claremont, IL | $30,328 |
Clarendon Hills, IL | $35,784 |
Clay City, IL | $30,328 |
Clayton, IL | $30,886 |
Claytonville, IL | $31,439 |
Clifton, IL | $32,392 |
Clinton, IL | $31,254 |
Coal City, IL | $34,511 |
Coal Valley, IL | $31,096 |
Coatsburg, IL | $30,886 |
Cobden, IL | $32,197 |
Coello, IL | $32,894 |
Coffeen, IL | $31,890 |
Colchester, IL | $32,436 |
Colfax, IL | $31,439 |
Collinsville, IL | $33,145 |
Collison, IL | $31,439 |
Colona, IL | $31,096 |
Colp, IL | $32,197 |
Columbia, IL | $33,109 |
Colusa, IL | $31,108 |
Compton, IL | $33,619 |
Concord, IL | $30,886 |
Congerville, IL | $32,476 |
Cooksville, IL | $31,581 |
Cordova, IL | $31,029 |
Cornell, IL | $32,436 |
Cornland, IL | $31,007 |
Cortland, IL | $33,619 |
Cottage Hills, IL | $32,984 |
Coulterville, IL | $32,894 |
Country Club Hills, IL | $33,412 |
Cowden, IL | $30,886 |
Creal Springs, IL | $31,499 |
Crescent City, IL | $31,439 |
Crest Hill, IL | $34,837 |
Creston, IL | $33,619 |
Crete, IL | $33,439 |
Creve Coeur, IL | $32,638 |
Cropsey, IL | $31,439 |
Crossville, IL | $31,312 |
Crystal Lake, IL | $33,930 |
Cuba, IL | $32,436 |
Cullom, IL | $31,439 |
Cutler, IL | $32,894 |
Cypress, IL | $30,772 |
Dahinda, IL | $31,769 |
Dahlgren, IL | $31,499 |
Dakota, IL | $33,647 |
Dale, IL | $31,499 |
Dallas City, IL | $31,108 |
Dalton City, IL | $31,281 |
Dalzell, IL | $32,436 |
Dana, IL | $32,436 |
Danforth, IL | $31,439 |
Danvers, IL | $32,436 |
Danville, IL | $31,359 |
Darien, IL | $35,744 |
Davis, IL | $33,727 |
Davis Junction, IL | $33,767 |
Dawson, IL | $31,075 |
De Land, IL | $31,493 |
De Soto, IL | $32,894 |
Decatur, IL | $31,123 |
Deer Creek, IL | $32,570 |
Deer Grove, IL | $31,042 |
Deerfield, IL | $34,724 |
Dekalb, IL | $33,619 |
Delavan, IL | $32,058 |
Dennison, IL | $30,923 |
Depue, IL | $32,436 |
Des Plaines, IL | $35,784 |
Dewey, IL | $31,600 |
Dewitt, IL | $31,439 |
Dieterich, IL | $30,328 |
Divernon, IL | $30,994 |
Dix, IL | $32,894 |
Dixon, IL | $33,619 |
Dolton, IL | $33,507 |
Dongola, IL | $31,479 |
Donnellson, IL | $32,894 |
Donovan, IL | $33,345 |
Dorsey, IL | $32,894 |
Dover, IL | $31,665 |
Dow, IL | $32,894 |
Dowell, IL | $32,894 |
Downers Grove, IL | $35,744 |
Downs, IL | $31,771 |
Du Bois, IL | $32,894 |
Du Quoin, IL | $32,894 |
Dundas, IL | $30,328 |
Dundee, IL | $34,870 |
Dunfermline, IL | $32,436 |
Dunlap, IL | $32,597 |
Dupo, IL | $33,163 |
Durand, IL | $33,781 |
Dwight, IL | $33,224 |
Eagarville, IL | $32,559 |
Earlville, IL | $33,619 |
East Alton, IL | $33,019 |
East Carondelet, IL | $33,163 |
East Dubuque, IL | $31,229 |
East Galesburg, IL | $31,392 |
East Lynn, IL | $31,439 |
East Moline, IL | $31,096 |
East Peoria, IL | $32,638 |
East Saint Louis, IL | $33,163 |
Easton, IL | $31,594 |
Eddyville, IL | $31,499 |
Edelstein, IL | $32,503 |
Edgewood, IL | $30,328 |
Edinburg, IL | $30,980 |
Edwards, IL | $32,638 |
Edwardsville, IL | $33,038 |
Effingham, IL | $30,525 |
El Paso, IL | $32,436 |
Elburn, IL | $34,727 |
Eldena, IL | $33,619 |
Eldorado, IL | $31,499 |
Eldred, IL | $32,894 |
Eleroy, IL | $33,619 |
Elgin, IL | $35,352 |
Elizabeth, IL | $31,735 |
Elizabethtown, IL | $31,499 |
Elk Grove Village, IL | $35,744 |
Elkhart, IL | $30,994 |
Elkville, IL | $32,894 |
Ellery, IL | $30,914 |
Elliott, IL | $31,452 |
Ellis Grove, IL | $32,894 |
Ellisville, IL | $32,436 |
Ellsworth, IL | $31,439 |
Elmhurst, IL | $35,811 |
Elmwood, IL | $32,503 |
Elmwood Park, IL | $35,879 |
Elsah, IL | $32,912 |
Elvaston, IL | $31,440 |
Elwin, IL | $31,060 |
Elwood, IL | $34,640 |
Emden, IL | $31,807 |
Emington, IL | $31,439 |
Emma, IL | $31,499 |
Energy, IL | $32,197 |
Enfield, IL | $31,499 |
Eola, IL | $35,194 |
Equality, IL | $31,499 |
Erie, IL | $31,106 |
Esmond, IL | $33,673 |
Essex, IL | $34,511 |
Eureka, IL | $32,530 |
Evanston, IL | $35,865 |
Evansville, IL | $32,894 |
Evergreen Park, IL | $35,852 |
Ewing, IL | $31,499 |
Fairbury, IL | $31,439 |
Fairfield, IL | $30,914 |
Fairmount, IL | $31,349 |
Fairview, IL | $32,436 |
Fairview Heights, IL | $33,145 |
Farina, IL | $30,328 |
Farmer City, IL | $31,466 |
Farmersville, IL | $30,886 |
Farmington, IL | $32,490 |
Fenton, IL | $31,100 |
Ferris, IL | $31,440 |
Fiatt, IL | $32,436 |
Fidelity, IL | $32,894 |
Fieldon, IL | $32,894 |
Fillmore, IL | $30,886 |
Findlay, IL | $31,439 |
Fisher, IL | $31,573 |
Fithian, IL | $31,506 |
Flanagan, IL | $32,436 |
Flat Rock, IL | $30,422 |
Flora, IL | $30,328 |
Flossmoor, IL | $33,439 |
Foosland, IL | $31,520 |
Forest City, IL | $31,993 |
Forest Park, IL | $35,879 |
Forrest, IL | $31,439 |
Forreston, IL | $33,619 |
Forsyth, IL | $31,137 |
Fort Sheridan, IL | $34,542 |
Fowler, IL | $30,886 |
Fox Lake, IL | $33,205 |
Fox River Grove, IL | $34,459 |
Fox Valley, IL | $35,359 |
Frankfort, IL | $34,458 |
Frankfort Heights, IL | $31,499 |
Franklin, IL | $30,899 |
Franklin Grove, IL | $33,619 |
Franklin Park, IL | $35,852 |
Frederick, IL | $30,886 |
Freeburg, IL | $32,948 |
Freeman Spur, IL | $32,197 |
Freeport, IL | $33,619 |
Fulton, IL | $31,111 |
Fults, IL | $32,894 |
Galatia, IL | $31,499 |
Galena, IL | $31,735 |
Galesburg, IL | $31,290 |
Galt, IL | $31,393 |
Galva, IL | $31,331 |
Garden Prairie, IL | $33,673 |
Gardner, IL | $34,511 |
Gays, IL | $31,439 |
Geff, IL | $30,914 |
Geneseo, IL | $30,988 |
Geneva, IL | $35,677 |
Genoa, IL | $33,619 |
Georgetown, IL | $31,117 |
Gerlaw, IL | $31,083 |
German Valley, IL | $33,700 |
Germantown, IL | $32,894 |
Gibson City, IL | $31,439 |
Gifford, IL | $31,533 |
Gilberts, IL | $34,762 |
Gillespie, IL | $32,559 |
Gilman, IL | $31,439 |
Gilson, IL | $31,970 |
Girard, IL | $30,886 |
Gladstone, IL | $30,920 |
Glasford, IL | $32,597 |
Glen Carbon, IL | $33,073 |
Glen Ellyn, IL | $35,140 |
Glenarm, IL | $31,048 |
Glencoe, IL | $35,771 |
Glendale Heights, IL | $35,298 |
Glenview, IL | $35,798 |
Glenwood, IL | $33,480 |
Godfrey, IL | $32,930 |
Golconda, IL | $30,772 |
Golden, IL | $30,886 |
Golden Eagle, IL | $32,894 |
Golden Gate, IL | $30,914 |
Golf, IL | $35,825 |
Good Hope, IL | $32,436 |
Goodfield, IL | $32,530 |
Goodwine, IL | $31,439 |
Goreville, IL | $31,499 |
Gorham, IL | $32,894 |
Grafton, IL | $32,894 |
Grand Chain, IL | $30,772 |
Grand Ridge, IL | $32,436 |
Grand Tower, IL | $32,894 |
Granite City, IL | $33,163 |
Regional Salary in Illinois
Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bloomington, IL | 230 | $32,560 | $15.66 | $44,870 | $27,040 |
Carbondale-Marion, IL | 130 | $30,630 | $14.72 | $36,710 | $27,040 |
Champaign-Urbana, IL | 170 | $32,690 | $15.72 | $42,100 | $27,090 |
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | 8,370 | $36,600 | $17.6 | $50,280 | $28,550 |
Decatur, IL | 80 | $29,680 | $14.27 | $35,320 | $27,040 |
Kankakee, IL | 70 | $33,860 | $16.28 | $46,260 | $27,040 |
Peoria, IL | 270 | $31,030 | $14.92 | $36,900 | $27,040 |
Rockford, IL | 210 | $32,720 | $15.73 | $45,340 | $27,130 |
Springfield, IL | 150 | $32,710 | $15.73 | $45,640 | $27,300 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Helpful Resources
Dog grooming is a modern job where you must attend seminars to learn new techniques and follow the latest trends.
You can go visit these sites for such information, as well as a refresher on grooming-related subjects.
Also, you need to check for helpful resources on your job hunting.
Some of the best places to do a job search are:
Conclusion
Dog grooming is the future for those who are seeking easy money and great work experiences.
What’s more, working with animals is always rewarding.
Seeing them look good and feel even better is a sensational feeling we all should experience.
There is no more honest expression than a happy dog’s face.
So think about signing up for a dog grooming course at your local school or online.
There’s nothing to lose in this career; you’re a sure winner!