Not every pet can show love the way dogs do.
That’s why picking dog grooming as your life’s calling is the best move you can ever make.
If you live in Michigan, you probably want to know how to become a professional dog groomer.
That’s why we’ve collected all the information you’ll need on your way to getting that future.
Table of Contents
Educational Requirements in Michigan
To become a dog groomer in Michigan, you can choose from a variety of formal and informal education.
For the best education, you should combine lessons with practical work.
Formal schooling will teach you everything about:
- Dogs and their behavior
- Grooming techniques
- Running a business
Apprenticeship and hands-on work will make you apply the knowledge you have and further understand it.
Both options have their pros and cons.
What you must keep in mind is that a lack of education will affect your career opportunities.
So, don’t just go with an apprenticeship or formal program.
Try to combine the best of both worlds for success to be inevitable.
Popular Programs
Earn your accredited, affordable associate degree or career diploma online with Penn Foster!
Veterinary AssistantVeterinary TechnicianVet Office ManagerDog ObediencePet GroomingSponsored Online Programs.What a Dog Groomer Does
People underestimate the role a dog groomer plays in a dog’s life.
Most of them think that all the groomers do is clean dogs.
Well, they’re wrong.
It’s more complex than that.
Don’t underestimate this job because it’s tightly connected with a dog’s health.
Every grooming session starts with a full examination.
Groomers report to owners if they notice something wrong with the dog.
This is a way of preventing bigger troubles, e.g. skin diseases, from turning serious.
When a dog has to see a vet, that’s usually something that could have been prevented, but wasn’t.
If there aren’t any visible skin or coat conditions, you may proceed to the actual grooming.
Here are the steps of a normal grooming process:
- Bathing to clean the dog or get rid of the fleas
- Drying with towels and blow dryer
- Combing and trimming hair
- Clipping nails
- Cleaning ears, eye-tear stains, and teeth
- Final styling
Don’t be surprised if the owner asks you to paint the dog’s nails, color its hair, or do a unique cut.
These are all normal requests that can be done using techniques learned from grooming school.
What you won’t learn is how to take care of your workstation and tools.
Common sense kicks in at this point because you need to work in a tidy and clean environment.
Tools and Equipment a Dog Groomer Uses
A groomer is no groomer without its special grooming tools!
You simply can’t have a grooming treatment without using clippers, brushes, trimmers, and so on.
Sure, techniques like hand stripping and hand scissoring will help you get rid of a matted coat.
But how on Earth can you trim a dog’s nails or give its coat a final styling?
So better sure you’re equipped with the following tools:
- Curry
- Shedding blade
- Clippers
- Combs
- Slicker brush
- Teasels
- Bristle brush
- Wire pin brush
- Rake
- Stand dryers
- Trinkets for finishing touches like ribbons and hair clips
Keep an eye on this list because it could help you a lot if you’re starting your own business.
Setting up everything from the scratch is hard, but cheat sheets like this one are a true treasure.
Job Opportunities in Michigan
Finishing grooming school opens many doors to great job positions.
Try inquiring at these local establishments and sending your resume:
- Vet clinics
- Pet clinics
- Animal shelters
- Dog kennels
- Pet stores
- Grooming salons
It’s not important where you work as long.
What matters is you like what you’re doing and you’re happy seeing dogs look their best.
Further, not all dog groomers are the same.
Many prefer working on tough cases like rescue dogs, while others find joy volunteering at animal shelters.
That’s why this industry lets you pick out the side you’re most comfortable working at.
Not a lot of careers can brag about that fact.
Potential Salary in Michigan
There are many factors that determine a groomer’s salary in Michigan.
Your skills, education, specialization, and the area of working all play a significant role.
However, the money you earn here in Michigan is actually good compared to the nearby states.
According to Salary.com, the average annual wage here is $35,701 as of January 2022.
And the range typically runs from around $29,000 to $44,000 a year.
Here’s how much your baseline salary will be if you belong to a certain percentile.
| Percentile | Salary |
| 10% | $23,283 |
| 25% | $29,201 |
| 50% | $35,701 |
| 75% | $44,501 |
| 90% | $52,513 |
Of course, if you’re a big city groomer, you will have a fatter paycheck.
Similarly, smaller cities offer smaller wages.
So if you’re working in a big grooming salon, your payment will be much higher than those from a dog shelter.
Check our list of salaries of all of the Michigan cities to know the potential pay in your area.
Who knows, maybe your city is a treasure mine for dog grooming!
Average Annual Salary by City
| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Acme | $31,727 |
| Ada | $32,911 |
| Addison | $34,539 |
| Adrian | $33,810 |
| Afton | $31,034 |
| Ahmeek | $31,855 |
| Akron | $31,069 |
| Alanson | $31,034 |
| Alba | $31,034 |
| Albion | $33,037 |
| Alden | $31,090 |
| Alger | $31,034 |
| Algonac | $34,291 |
| Allegan | $32,647 |
| Allen | $33,157 |
| Allen Park | $34,560 |
| Allendale | $32,821 |
| Allenton | $34,291 |
| Allouez | $31,855 |
| Alma | $31,550 |
| Almont | $34,291 |
| Alpena | $31,034 |
| Alpha | $32,088 |
| Alto | $32,803 |
| Amasa | $32,088 |
| Anchorville | $34,291 |
| Ann Arbor | $35,405 |
| Applegate | $31,034 |
| Arcadia | $31,617 |
| Argyle | $31,034 |
| Armada | $34,291 |
| Arnold | $32,088 |
| Ashley | $31,918 |
| Athens | $33,301 |
| Atlanta | $31,034 |
| Atlantic Mine | $31,623 |
| Atlas | $32,617 |
| Attica | $32,662 |
| Au Gres | $31,034 |
| Au Train | $32,088 |
| Auburn | $31,231 |
| Auburn Hills | $34,584 |
| Augusta | $33,427 |
| Avoca | $34,291 |
| Azalia | $35,261 |
| Bad Axe | $31,034 |
| Bailey | $34,958 |
| Baldwin | $31,147 |
| Bancroft | $32,508 |
| Bangor | $32,033 |
| Bannister | $31,981 |
| Barga | $31,935 |
| Barbeau | $31,034 |
| Bark River | $32,088 |
| Baroda | $32,177 |
| Barryton | $31,837 |
| Barton City | $31,034 |
| Bath | $33,026 |
| Battle Creek | $33,427 |
| Bay City | $31,285 |
| Bay Port | $31,034 |
| Bay Shore | $31,423 |
| Bear Lake | $31,617 |
| Beaver Island | $32,088 |
| Beaverton | $31,034 |
| Bedford | $33,427 |
| Belding | $32,695 |
| Bellaire | $31,090 |
| Belleville | $35,351 |
| Bellevue | $33,391 |
| Belmont | $32,911 |
| Bentley | $31,034 |
| Benton Harbor | $32,213 |
| Benzonia | $31,617 |
| Bergland | $31,623 |
| Berkley | $34,524 |
| Berrien Centre | $32,141 |
| Berrien Springs | $32,177 |
| Bessemer | $31,623 |
| Beulah | $31,617 |
| Big Bay | $32,088 |
| Big Rapids | $31,894 |
| Birch Run | $31,231 |
| Birmingham | $34,453 |
| Bitely | $31,147 |
| Black River | $31,034 |
| Blanchard | $32,641 |
| Blissfield | $33,525 |
| Bloomfield Hills | $34,416 |
| Bloomingdale | $32,383 |
| Boon | $31,894 |
| Boyne City | $31,034 |
| Boyne Falls | $31,034 |
| Bradley | $32,876 |
| Branch | $31,147 |
| Brant | $31,588 |
| Breckenridge | $31,289 |
| Breedsville | $32,039 |
| Brethern | $31,147 |
| Bridgeport | $31,303 |
| Bridgewater | $35,387 |
| Bridgman | $32,141 |
| Brighton | $35,243 |
| Brimley | $31,561 |
| Britton | $35,225 |
| Brohman | $31,296 |
| Bronson | $32,694 |
| Brooklyn | $34,581 |
| Brown City | $31,034 |
| Bruce Crossing | $31,855 |
| Brutus | $31,034 |
| Buchanan | $31,376 |
| Buckley | $31,147 |
| Burlington | $33,301 |
| Burnips | $32,767 |
| Burr Oak | $32,366 |
| Burt | $31,231 |
| Burt Lake | $31,034 |
| Burton | $31,034 |
| Byron | $33,034 |
| Byron Center | $32,893 |
| Cadillac | $31,607 |
| Caledonia | $32,839 |
| Calumet | $31,855 |
| Camden | $33,157 |
| Cannonsburg | $32,875 |
| Canton | $35,351 |
| Capac | $34,291 |
| Carleton | $34,051 |
| Carney | $32,088 |
| Caro | $31,034 |
| Carp Lake | $31,561 |
| Carrollton | $31,303 |
| Carson City | $32,651 |
| Carsonville | $31,034 |
| Casco | $34,291 |
| Caseville | $31,034 |
| Casnovia | $32,749 |
| Caspian | $32,088 |
| Cass City | $31,034 |
| Cassopolis | $31,774 |
| Cedar | $31,617 |
| Cedar Lake | $32,641 |
| Cedar Springs | $32,767 |
| Cedarville | $31,034 |
| Cement City | $34,591 |
| Center Line | $34,560 |
| Central Lake | $31,423 |
| Centreville | $32,092 |
| Ceresco | $33,427 |
| Champion | $32,088 |
| Channing | $32,088 |
| Charlevoix | $31,423 |
| Charlotte | $32,882 |
| Chase | $31,894 |
| Chassell | $31,855 |
| Chatham | $32,088 |
| Cheboygan | $31,034 |
| Chelsea | $35,297 |
| Chesaning | $31,123 |
| Chippewa Lake | $32,641 |
| Clare | $31,034 |
| Clarklake | $34,152 |
| Clarkston | $34,660 |
| Clarksville | $32,819 |
| Clawson | $34,489 |
| Clayton | $33,834 |
| Clifford | $31,034 |
| Climax | $33,427 |
| Clinton | $35,243 |
| Clinton Township | $34,416 |
| Clio | $31,105 |
| Cloverdale | $32,928 |
| Cohoctah | $33,538 |
| Coldwater | $33,157 |
| Coleman | $31,034 |
| Coloma | $32,213 |
| Colon | $32,642 |
| Columbiaville | $31,034 |
| Columbus | $34,291 |
| Comins | $31,034 |
| Commerce Township | $34,740 |
| Comstock | $33,301 |
| Comstock Park | $32,911 |
| Concord | $33,143 |
| Conklin | $32,821 |
| Constantine | $31,734 |
| Conway | $31,034 |
| Cooks | $32,088 |
| Coopersvile | $32,821 |
| Copemish | $31,147 |
| Copper City | $31,855 |
| Copper Harbor | $31,935 |
| Coral | $32,392 |
| Cornell | $32,088 |
| Corunna | $31,981 |
| Covert | $32,141 |
| Covington | $32,088 |
| Cross Village | $31,561 |
| Croswell | $32,662 |
| Crystal | $32,706 |
| Crystal Falls | $32,088 |
| Curran | $31,034 |
| Curtis | $32,088 |
| Custer | $31,147 |
| Dafter | $31,561 |
| Daggett | $32,088 |
| Dansville | $32,882 |
| Davisburg | $34,743 |
| Davison | $31,034 |
| De Tour Village | $31,034 |
| Dearborn | $34,560 |
| Dearborn Heights | $34,543 |
| Decatur | $31,824 |
| Decker | $31,034 |
| Deckerville | $31,034 |
| Deerfield | $32,483 |
| Deerton | $32,088 |
| Deford | $31,034 |
| Delton | $33,319 |
| Detroit | $34,560 |
| Dewitt | $33,026 |
| Dexter | $35,405 |
| Dimondale | $33,026 |
| Dodgeville | $31,855 |
| Dollar Bay | $31,855 |
| Dorr | $32,785 |
| Douglas | $31,949 |
| Dowagiac | $32,069 |
| Dowling | $33,355 |
| Drayton Plains | $34,646 |
| Drummond Island | $31,034 |
| Dryden | $34,291 |
| Dundee | $33,871 |
| Durand | $32,271 |
| Eagle | $32,972 |
| East China | $34,291 |
| East Jordan | $31,034 |
| East Lansing | $33,026 |
| East Leroy | $33,427 |
| East Tawas | $31,034 |
| Eastlake | $31,147 |
| Eastpointe | $34,560 |
| Eastport | $31,727 |
| Eaton Rapids | $32,918 |
| Eau Claire | $32,195 |
| Eben Junction | $32,088 |
| Eckerman | $31,561 |
| Ecorse | $34,560 |
| Edenville | $31,034 |
| Edmore | $32,641 |
| Edwardsburg | $31,855 |
| Elberta | $32,088 |
| Elk Rapids | $31,727 |
| Elkton | $31,034 |
| Ellsworth | $31,423 |
| Elm Hall | $31,799 |
| Elmira | $31,034 |
| Elsie | $32,059 |
| Elwell | $31,225 |
| Emmett | $34,291 |
| Empire | $32,088 |
| Engadine | $32,618 |
| Erie | $32,088 |
| Escanaba | $31,249 |
| Essexville | $31,249 |
| Eureka | $32,151 |
| Evart | $31,607 |
| Ewen | $31,623 |
| Fair Haven | $34,291 |
| Fairgrove | $31,105 |
| Fairview | $31,034 |
| Falmouth | $34,416 |
| Farmington | $31,034 |
| Farwell | $34,416 |
| Felch | $31,034 |
| Fennville | $32,073 |
| Fenton | $33,737 |
| Fenwick | $32,685 |
| Ferndale | $34,560 |
| Ferrysburg | $31,417 |
| Fife Lake | $31,607 |
| Filer City | $31,147 |
| Filion | $31,034 |
| Flat Rock | $34,381 |
| Flint | $31,198 |
| Flushing | $31,422 |
| Forestville | $31,034 |
| Fort Gratiot | $34,291 |
| Foster City | $32,088 |
| Fostoria | $31,034 |
| Fountain | $31,147 |
| Fowler | $32,810 |
| Fowlerville | $33,719 |
| Frankenmuth | $31,267 |
| Frankfort | $32,088 |
| Franklin | $34,435 |
| Fraser | $34,489 |
| Frederic | $31,034 |
| Free Soil | $31,147 |
| Freeland | $31,285 |
| Freeport | $32,852 |
| Freemont | $31,658 |
| Frontier | $33,157 |
| Fruitport | $31,417 |
| Fulton | $33,301 |
| Gaastra | $32,088 |
| Gagetown | $31,034 |
| Gaines | $32,688 |
| Galesburg | $33,391 |
| Galien | $31,336 |
| Garden | $32,088 |
| Garden City | $34,489 |
| Gaylord | $31,034 |
| Genesee | $31,034 |
| Germfask | $32,088 |
| Gilford | $31,195 |
| Gladstone | $32,088 |
| Gladwin | $31,034 |
| Glen Arbor | $32,088 |
| Glenn | $32,018 |
| Glennie | $31,034 |
| Gobles | $32,479 |
| Goetzville | $31,034 |
| Good Hart | $31,561 |
| Goodells | $34,291 |
| Goodrich | $32,957 |
| Gould City | $32,088 |
| Gowen | $32,579 |
| Grand Blanc | $32,262 |
| Grand Haven | $31,417 |
| Grand Junction | $32,209 |
| Grand Ledge | $33,026 |
| Grand Marais | $32,088 |
| Grand Rapids | $32,911 |
| Grandville | $32,911 |
| Grant | $31,879 |
| Grass Lake | $34,363 |
| Grawn | $31,617 |
| Grayling | $31,034 |
| Greenbush | $31,034 |
| Greenland | $31,623 |
| Greenville | $32,653 |
| Gregory | $34,174 |
| Grosse Ile | $34,453 |
| Grosse Pointe | $34,560 |
| Gulliver | $32,088 |
| Gwinn | $32,088 |
| Hadley | $32,391 |
| Hagar Shores | $32,213 |
| Hale | $31,034 |
| Hamburg | $35,333 |
| Hamilton | $32,151 |
| Hamtrack | $34,560 |
| Hancock | $31,855 |
| Hanover | $33,521 |
| Harbert | $32,051 |
| Harbor Beach | $31,034 |
| Harbor Springs | $31,561 |
| Harper Woods | $34,560 |
| Harrietta | $31,147 |
| Harris | $32,088 |
| Harrison | $31,034 |
| Harrison Township | $34,362 |
| Harrisville | $31,034 |
| Harsens Island | $34,291 |
| Hart | $31,147 |
| Hartford | $32,141 |
| Hartland | $34,428 |
| Haslett | $33,026 |
| Hastings | $32,910 |
| Hawks | $31,034 |
| Hazel Park | $34,560 |
| Hemlock | $31,213 |
| Henderson | $31,854 |
| Hermansville | $32,088 |
| Herron | $31,034 |
| Hersey | $31,894 |
| Hesperia | $31,434 |
| Hessel | $31,034 |
| Hickory Cones | $33,391 |
| Higgins Lake | $31,034 |
| Highland | $34,700 |
| Highland Park | $34,560 |
| Hillman | $31,034 |
| Hillsdale | $33,157 |
| Holland | $31,961 |
| Holly | $34,165 |
| Holt | $33,026 |
| Holton | $31,255 |
| Homer | $33,103 |
| Honor | $31,617 |
| Hope | $31,034 |
| Hopkins | $32,681 |
| Horton | $32,681 |
| Houghton | $33,575 |
| Houghton Lake | $31,855 |
| Houghton Lake Height | $31,034 |
| Howard City | $32,239 |
| Howell | $34,155 |
| Hubbard Lake | $31,034 |
| Hubbardston | $32,724 |
| Hubbell | $31,855 |
| Hudson | $33,880 |
| Hudsonville | $32,857 |
| Hulbert | $32,088 |
| Huntington Woods | $34,543 |
| Ida | $32,510 |
| Idlewild | $31,147 |
| Imlay City | $34,291 |
| Indian River | $31,034 |
| Ingalls | $32,088 |
| Inkster | $34,506 |
| Interlochen | $31,617 |
| Ionia | $32,742 |
| Iron Mountain | $32,088 |
| Iron River | $32,088 |
| Irons | $31,147 |
| Ironwood | $31,623 |
| Ishpeming | $32,088 |
| Ithaca | $31,762 |
| Jackson | $33,749 |
| Jamestown | $32,839 |
| Jasper | $33,259 |
| Jeddo | $34,291 |
| Jenison | $32,911 |
| Jerome | $34,181 |
| Johannesburg | $31,034 |
| Jones | $31,747 |
| Jonesville | $33,157 |
| Kalamazoo | $32,830 |
| Kaleva | $31,147 |
| Kalkaska | $31,034 |
| Kakawlin | $31,213 |
| Kearsarge | $31,855 |
| Keego Harbor | $34,671 |
| Kendall | $32,566 |
| Kent City | $32,767 |
| Kewadin | $31,727 |
| Kincheloe | $31,561 |
| Kinde | $31,034 |
| Kingsford | $32,088 |
| Kingsley | $31,607 |
| Kingston | $31,034 |
| Kinross | $31,561 |
| La Salle | $32,550 |
| Lachine | $31,034 |
| Lacota | $32,128 |
| Laingsburg | $32,936 |
| Lake | $31,034 |
| Lake Ann | $31,617 |
| Lake City | $31,607 |
| Lake George | $31,034 |
| Lake Leelanau | $31,617 |
| Lake Linden | $31,935 |
| Lake Odessa | $32,846 |
| Lake Orion | $34,518 |
| Lakeland | $35,315 |
| Lakeside | $31,879 |
| Lakeview | $32,641 |
| Lakeville | $34,375 |
| Lambertville | $32,618 |
| Lamont | $32,875 |
| Lanse | $32,088 |
| Lansing | $33,026 |
| Lapeer | $31,034 |
| Lawrence | $32,051 |
| Lawton | $32,024 |
| Leland | $32,088 |
| Lennon | $31,746 |
| Leonard | $31,291 |
| Leonidas | $32,801 |
| Leroy | $31,894 |
| Leslie | $32,846 |
| Levering | $31,034 |
Regional Salary in Michigan
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor, MI | 340 | $31,340 | $15.07 | $41,430 | $24,750 |
| Battle Creek, MI | 80 | $30,150 | $14.5 | $41,470 | $21,730 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 2,940 | $35,660 | $17.14 | $45,100 | $27,620 |
| Flint, MI | 220 | $29,910 | $14.38 | $36,930 | $23,130 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI | 780 | $31,940 | $15.36 | $40,380 | $24,080 |
| Jackson, MI | 70 | $30,480 | $14.66 | $36,360 | $23,900 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | 250 | $31,010 | $14.91 | $38,380 | $24,240 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 440 | $31,270 | $15.04 | $45,850 | $23,740 |
| Midland, MI | 60 | $30,540 | $14.68 | $37,110 | $25,600 |
| Monroe, MI | 70 | $31,430 | $15.11 | $39,210 | $23,760 |
| Muskegon, MI | 170 | $32,120 | $15.44 | $39,380 | $24,980 |
| Niles-Benton Harbor, MI | 130 | $30,270 | $14.56 | $36,870 | $25,780 |
| Saginaw, MI | 110 | $29,570 | $14.22 | $34,460 | $23,100 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Helpful Grooming Resources
Education never ends.
And this industry is constantly improving and coming up with new trends.
A great way of keeping up with the latest news is by checking out these websites:
- Dog Grooming in Michigan Directory
- Michigan Dog Trainer
- Michigan Humane Society
- Humane Society of West Michigan
- Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan
- Cherryland Humane Society
- National Dog Groomer Association of America
These sites are also a terrific base for finding new work opportunities.
Final Words
Michigan is a fertile ground for the grooming industry.
This career is rising, and it will become even bigger in the future.
Plus, dog grooming is a wonderful job for all dog lovers.
The satisfaction of seeing a dog shine after your treatment is beyond any words.
You’ll understand what I’m talking about once you graduate from grooming school.
Everything should be a walk in the dog park, don’t you think?
So, are you ready to become one of Michigan’s finest dog groomers?
How to Become a Dog/Pet Groomer by State